The goal of RUDOLF is to improve access to STEM facilities and educational opportunities for students with physical disabilities. The team behind the RUDOLF project includes several professors from various Purdue University departments, including project lead Dr. Brad Duerstock, Associate Professor Jiansong Zhang, Professor Nan Kong, Dr. Brandon Pitts, and George Takahashi, who is the Lead Visualization Scientist at the Envision Center.

 

Many STEM Facilities Offer Only the Minimum ADA Requirements  

STEM students rely on activity-based learning to excel at university and to apply their skills in the workplace. Participation in this type of learning is often not possible for students with physical disabilities. Universities broadly comply with the The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its various requirements for wheelchair access to both classrooms and lab spaces. However, that minimum requirement just gets students into the room, it does not also provide for adjustments to the width between tables, workstation height, or equipment setup, among many other considerations. 

 

“We built RUDOLF not for a specific university or discipline, but to create a tool with generative AI that’s usable at any engineering department for a variety of disciplines,” said Duerstock. “It addresses a crucial need in STEM, to improve access for students with physical disabilities so they can actively participate and thrive. Improving inclusion is not just for undergraduate students, but also crucial for graduates with disabilities who want to become successful STEM teaching assistants and professors. That’s the broader mission, to have more professionals and faculty with disabilities in the STEM workforce.”

 

 

Leveraging AI and VR to Improve Accesibile STEM Facility Design

The RUDOLF team is building an AI toolkit that produces accessible lab designs based on demand for use with new construction or to adapt current classrooms and other facilities. The project includes engaging with students with disabilities through a virtual reality environment where they can interact with proposed accessible environments. The students’ experiences and preferences with the virtual accessible spaces will dynamically adjust the recommended design and build plans.

 

Each member of the RUDOLF team will contribute key elements to the project’s scope and success. Professor Zhang and his lab built the AI toolkit that incorporated data based on ADA building guidelines and other accessibility standards. Dr. Duerstock and George Takahashi at the Envision Center worked closely to develop improved virtual reality accessible STEM labs. They will engage with persons with disabilities who can interact with the 3D virtual labs and provide measured data as well as their feedback and preferences. This information further improves the AI tool’s ability to present well-designed accessible spaces. Dr. Duerstock and Dr. Pitts will evaluate the usability of the proposed lab spaces using human-centered design principles. Professor Kong will help the team understand how the various design and usability factors will influence how effectively and safely people with disabilities can utilize the lab. Drs. Katie Brendli Brown and Valerie Malzer from Cornell University will be evaluating project progress. 

 

“RUDOLF aims to remove accessibility barriers,” continued Duerstock. “It offers an AI-powered virtual space for these students to engage with and test different accessibility features in the lab. Designers of STEM facilities can use this tool to build and or purchase accessible rooms, equipment, and workstations that improve inclusivity and get more people with physical disabilities involved in the STEM field.”