Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Roadmap 4.
Personal safety and security.
Short term (2015)
Mid term (2020)
Long term (2025)
Safety and
security against
personal integrity
and external
physical threats
Distributed sensors
with RF network to
home station and
phone link to alarm
control centre
Sensors “plug-and-
play” network with
automatic configuring
capability
Sensors with energy harvesting
Fall detection sensor
Motion monitor
including fall
prevention; home
station capable of
Situation and activity
interpretation
Integration into false teeth, into
implants or other body devices
Safety against
falls and cuts
Peace of mind,
Safety against
other personal
fatalities
Outdoor localization
via Navstar-GPS
Usage of other GPS
like Galileo: indoor
inertia navigation
supported by
stationary beacons
Pervasive navigation with
centralized storage of position
and track; merged with outdoor
and building maps; personalized
and secure access of data
Safety while
performing
specific activities
“All terrain”
mechanical walker in
which individual
devices like
illumination,
navigation system can
be installed
Walker can be docked
to personal private car
Walker is able to enter public
transport vehicles, escalators,
stairs and cross doorsteps. It will
carry its loads into the car and
into the flat/house. It will avoid
collisions and knows about
routes and potential conflicts
2.5. Activities of Daily Life oriented support
An important complication for persons with impairments and disabilities is performing
the daily tasks. They need either support from other persons (family or care givers) or
have automated support. In the latter case devices that can perform autonomously these
tasks should be smart tools, such as robots.
The CARE project has defined a taxonomy that is intended to cover all the
branches of robotics research; the most relevant category for the AAL universe is that
of robotic co-workers. Co-workers are robots designed to help humans in some ways;
their range of applications examples sweep from cleaning and gardening to assisting a
user or a patient. Co-workers can co-exist with human beings in the same environment
and can also act on behalf of human beings in dangerous environments (this case is not
in AAL field). Close interaction between human and robot is one of the most relevant
aspects of this type of robots, and interfaces assume a crucial role in this context.
With a stronger focus on robotics in AAL, and in particular on solutions for
autonomy and care, the AAL assistant/companion robots should be conceived for
supporting users in simple activities of daily living (ADL) and to work in structured
environments. Such robotic systems will show the following features:
