Summary:
I’ve provided insights on various robotic and assistive technologies designed to support elderly individuals. Key examples include robots like Lio and the ENRICHME platform, which aid with daily tasks and cognitive stimulation. Other studies highlight systems like GUARDIAN and MoveCare, focusing on home telemonitoring and social interaction. These technologies emphasize safety, user acceptance, and privacy compliance, especially in healthcare environments. Successful integration of AI, robotics, and human-centered design is crucial for long-term adoption. The need for transdisciplinary approaches to create effective, assistive, and personalized solutions was also emphasized.
The lecture discusses the emerging role of social robots as interfaces for smart spaces, particularly in smart homes. While robots have long been envisioned as butlers, baby watchers, and life companions, they have yet to gain widespread acceptance. Currently, they are not present in most homes, largely due to challenges in cost, usability, and human acceptance. However, advancements in research and technology suggest a shift towards making robots a central part of home automation. Social robots are being explored as the "chief appliance" in smart homes, serving as interfaces that manage and interact with connected devices, thereby enhancing the functionality of smart spaces. A case study conducted in the Ubiquitous Home at NICT, Japan, examines the usability of these robots, providing insights into their potential role in improving user experience within smart environments. The study suggests that with better human-robot interaction, social robots could become more intuitive and widely accepted as home assistants. However, ethical and social concerns, such as privacy and emotional attachment, must be addressed for broader adoption. Overall, the lecture highlights the transformative potential of social robots in smart homes, indicating that they could soon play a significant role in making smart spaces more interactive, efficient, and user-friendly.
The global population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. With changes in life expectancy across the world, three major issues arise: an increasing proportion of senior citizens; cognitive and physical problems progressively affecting the elderly; and a growing number of single-person households. The available data proves the ever-increasing necessity for efficient elderly care solutions such as healthcare service and assistive robots. Additionally, such robotic solutions provide safe healthcare assistance in public health emergencies such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). CHARMIE is an anthropomorphic collaborative healthcare and domestic assistant robot capable of performing generic service tasks in non-standardised healthcare and domestic environment settings. The combination of its hardware and software solutions demonstrates map building and self-localisation, safe navigation through dynamic obstacle detection and avoidance, different human-robot interaction systems, speech and hearing, pose/gesture estimation and household object manipulation. Moreover, CHARMIE performs end-to-end chores in nursing homes, domestic houses, and healthcare facilities. Some examples of these chores are to help users transport items, fall detection, tidying up rooms, user following, and set up a table. The robot can perform a wide range of chores, either independently or collaboratively. CHARMIE provides a generic robotic solution such that older people can live longer, more independent, and healthier lives.
The research presented in this paper addresses the growing issue of mobility impairment, particularly in the aging U.S. population, by introducing a novel robotic companion designed to assist mobility-challenged individuals. This walker-type mobile robot is engineered to accompany the user while ensuring their safety by keeping them at the center, providing protection and potential power assistance. A key feature of this robotic companion is its 3D computer vision system, which enables it to detect the user's position and orientation without requiring physical contact or wearable sensors. This innovation allows users to walk freely with minimal disturbance to their natural gait, significantly reducing the physical and cognitive burdens associated with traditional assistive devices.
To develop this robotic companion, the researchers designed and built a low-cost, differentially steered mobile robotic platform and integrated a specialized image processing system that extracts position and orientation data from 3D camera images. Additionally, an advanced motion control system was implemented to tackle specific challenges such as sway reduction and noise reduction in digital differentiation. Performance evaluations were conducted at both component and system levels, and the results confirmed that the robotic companion and its core components functioned as intended. The study concludes that this system has the potential to enhance user mobility and reduce physical strain in real-world applications, offering a promising assistive solution for individuals with mobility impairments.
This study explores the integration of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) frameworks with Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) to support older adults living alone. While the combination of these technologies has shown promise in monitoring and assisting elderly individuals, challenges related to long-term deployments in real-world environments remain underexplored. The research introduces the MoveCare system, an unobtrusive platform that integrates a SAR within an AAL framework to provide monitoring, assistance, and social, cognitive, and physical stimulation for older adults at risk of frailty.
A key aspect of the study was a long-term pilot campaign spanning over 300 weeks, during which the system’s acceptability and feasibility were evaluated through questionnaires and comparative analysis of deployments with and without the assistive robot. The results offer strong empirical evidence that SARs, when integrated with monitoring and stimulation platforms, can provide sustained support for older adults. Notably, the presence of the robot significantly encouraged system use but led to a slight decrease in overall acceptability. Additionally, the study highlights the substantial technical, organizational, and logistical challenges involved in real-world long-term SAR deployment. These insights emphasize the need for addressing these challenges in order to develop robust and scalable assistive systems. The findings contribute valuable knowledge towards the future widespread adoption of SARs in elderly care.
Recent technological advancements have facilitated the integration of modern robots into daily life, with assistive robotics emerging as a promising field aimed at enhancing the quality of life for elderly and vulnerable individuals. This paper introduces the robotic platform developed in the ENRICHME project, which focuses on innovative perception and interaction capabilities to support aging populations. The primary objective of the project is to improve the daily experiences of elderly individuals by incorporating technologies that enable health monitoring, complementary care, and social support within their homes.
A key feature of the ENRICHME project is its development of specialized cognitive stimulation services designed for elderly users experiencing mild cognitive impairments. The system integrates multiple modules to provide tailored support, helping users maintain mental engagement and independence. The effectiveness of the ENRICHME robot was evaluated through pilot programs conducted in Poland, Greece, and the UK, where it demonstrated significant potential as an at-home assistive companion. The results of these trials confirm that the robot can effectively aid elderly individuals, offering both practical assistance and social interaction to improve their overall well-being.
Although as robot involvement in manufacturing for the transportation industry has increased dramatically in recent years [1], over 60% of automotive assembly tasks are still accomplished manually by human workers. The automotive assembly line presents numerous challenges, such as significant variability in tools and parts, flexible tasks, and unstructured and dynamic environments that preclude direct automation via traditional fenced robotic work cells. While human-robot collaboration offers a technically viable means to integrate robotic systems into automotive assembly [2]-[4], the lack of suitable robotic systems remains a challenge.
The GUARDIAN project aims to address the growing need for assistance among older adults by enabling them to live independently at home for as long as possible. This is achieved through the GUARDIAN socio-technical platform, which combines digital tools and robotics to support both elderly individuals and their caregivers.
The platform consists of two interconnected applications: the Caregiver App, designed for caregivers to monitor and assist, and the Senior App, tailored for older adults to enhance their self-sufficiency. Additionally, the system incorporates Misty II, a social robot that provides coaching in an engaging manner. The study is structured as a technical feasibility pilot, evaluating the effectiveness of the GUARDIAN system within a selected group of elderly participants.
A key strength of the project is its focus on user-centered design, ensuring that the platform aligns with the real needs and expectations of older adults, thereby increasing its acceptability. Moreover, the study is planned in two distinct testing phases, allowing for iterative improvements based on qualitative and quantitative data gathered from the first phase. This approach enhances the system’s adaptability and effectiveness, contributing to the development of a more responsive and user-friendly assistive technology for elderly care.
The increasing life expectancy, along with advancements in technology and medical science, has significantly transformed healthcare delivery for aging populations. Research indicates that home telemonitoring can reduce hospital readmissions, while continuous monitoring of seniors’ daily activities and health-related issues can help prevent medical emergencies.
The primary objective of this review was to analyze advancements in assistive technology for aging populations, specifically focusing on remote patient monitoring, smart homes, telecare, and AI-driven monitoring systems. A systematic literature review was conducted across multiple databases, including CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, IEEE Xplore, ProQuest Central, Scopus, and Science Direct, selecting studies related to elderly care, independent living, and novel assistive technologies.
A total of 91 publications met the inclusion criteria, leading to the identification of four key themes: technology acceptance and readiness, novel patient monitoring and smart home technologies, intelligent algorithm and software engineering, and robotics technologies. The findings highlighted a gap in critical appraisal, with many studies lacking strong reference standards.
The review concluded that in-home monitoring and smart technologies can significantly improve elderly independence, expand healthcare services, and enhance health outcomes for frail seniors. The study also emphasized the need for customized technology solutions tailored to different aging populations. Additionally, it identified a divide between engineering teams, who focus on prototype and algorithm development, and medical science teams, who prioritize healthcare outcomes. The convergence of medicine and informatics could foster interdisciplinary research and lead to innovative assistive technologies for elderly care.
Lio is a mobile robotic platform designed for human-robot interaction and personal care assistance in healthcare environments. Equipped with a multi-functional arm, Lio operates autonomously in healthcare facilities, assisting both staff and patients with daily tasks. The robot prioritizes safety with features such as soft artificial-leather covering, collision detection, limited speed and force, and a compliant motion controller. Additionally, Lio integrates multiple visual, audio, laser, ultrasound, and mechanical sensors to enable safe navigation and environmental awareness.
Lio's ROS-enabled system allows researchers to access raw sensor data and directly control the robot for further customization. Its friendly appearance has contributed to high acceptance among healthcare professionals and patients. The robot operates fully autonomously through a flexible decision engine, autonomous navigation, and automatic recharging, enabling continuous operation with up to 8 hours of battery life and recharging during idle periods.
Lio features powerful onboard computing that supports AI and deep learning without relying on cloud services, ensuring privacy compliance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lio was swiftly adapted to provide disinfection services and remote body temperature detection. The robot meets ISO13482 safety standards for personal care robots, allowing it to be directly tested and deployed in healthcare settings.
This article provides a retrospective overview of nearly 18 years of research and development in Active Assisted Living (AAL), focusing on the role of AI and robotics in supporting older adults' independence and improving their quality of life. The authors analyze past work to identify key strengths, lessons learned, and future research directions, while also drawing insights from similar research efforts. The study explores the success factors of innovative assistive technologies by grounding them in well-established technology acceptance models.
The analysis is structured into three key perspectives:
Technological Vision – Examining how support systems must operate with continuity, robustness, and safety in real-world environments.
Socio-Health Perspective – Highlighting the importance of contextualized and personalized assistance provided by experts in the socio-assistance domain.
Human Dimension – Considering the personal factors that influence long-term interaction and acceptance of assistive technologies.
The article underscores the crucial role of AI and robotics in enabling intelligent and adaptive assistive behaviors. Additionally, it advocates for a transdisciplinary approach, merging expertise from multiple disciplines to create comprehensive and well-coordinated solutions for Active Assisted Living. By integrating technology, healthcare, and human factors, the research aims to guide future advancements in the field, ensuring that assistive systems are both effective and widely accepted.