An intelligent home automation control system based on A novel heat pump and wireless sensor networks

One of technology's main goals is to providing comfort to humans. However, in order to be an aid, it has to be easy to install, use and maintain. The ever growing complexity of technological systems can only be achieved by converging different technologies. This is usually expressed as Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), previews the symbiosis of several technologies in order to make them more accessible. This paper attempts to demonstrate the integration between two technologies such as: Heat-pump System and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to provide a new control mechanism for new building generations so-called smart houses. The proposed control architecture benefits from our developed WSN hardware platform. It enables the user to control and monitor the ventilation system using our developed mobile application and/or a personal computer. Also, the performance of the proposed hardware platform is measured in three different environments in order to observer the coverage area of the WSN.Tiago Gomes is supported by FCT, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grant SFRH/BD/90162/2012). This work is supported by FEDER through COMPETE and national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology in the framework of the project FCOMP-OI-0124-FEDER-022674

Sensing technologies in pervasive healthcare: Evaluation and design for senior citizens and continuous care

Tese de Doutoramento - Programa Doutoral em Engenharia Eletrónica e ComputadoresConcerns on the efficiency and quality of public health systems have increased in recent years due to population growth and ageing. With population ageing, the number of persons with medical conditions that require supervision increases, thus increasing the burden of healthcare professionals. The adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is one of the proposed solutions to help address these societal changes. Their application has been recognized as an aid to improve healthcare by enabling support for continuous treatment, care and well-being, ultimately improving quality of life. Research areas such as Pervasive Healthcare have been proposed with the aim to deliverer “healthcare to anyone, anytime, and anywhere.”, and paradigms such as the Internet of Things (IoT) propose to address the deployment of interoperable infrastructures based on sensors, networks and services, by connecting “things” over the Internet, eventually enabling what is proposed by Pervasive Healthcare. Yet, challenges on the deployment of sensor technologies towards a Healthcare IoT still have to be addressed, in order to provide healthcare applications that benefit its stakeholders. The aim of this thesis is to develop and evaluate pervasive sensing interfaces, for Healthcare IoT monitoring applications of senior citizens and patients under non-critical continuous care. This is investigated by 1) developing three new pervasive gateways solutions for interfacing medical devices, 2) evaluating commercial sensor devices to verify their validity and reliability for healthcare applications, and 3) evaluating these solutions in real world nursing homes to assess their feasibility and gain an understating of the users’ experience. The research developed indicates that a combination of available ICT may enable Healthcare IoT. The method of developing sensor interfaces based on standard ICT, which require minimal or zero configuration, may be appealing to the end users, since minimal technical knowledge is required to use them and more focus can be put on providing healthcare. Yet, challenges such as standardized access to health data, healthcare stakeholders’ acceptance, technology reliability and its real benefit, still have to be further researched. The availability of the developed platforms may leverage the research on these topics and, ultimately, leverage the deployment of Healthcare IoT.Nos últimos anos tem havido uma crescente preocupação com a eficiência e qualidade dos serviços públicos de saúde devido ao aumento e envelhecimento da população. O envelhecimento da população carece de especial atenção devido ao aumento de condições médicas, que vão implicar um aumento da carga dos seus já sobrecarregados profissionais. A adoção de tecnologias de informação e comunicação tem sido proposta como uma solução para ajudar a resolver os problemas descritos. A sua aplicação tem sido reconhecida como uma forma de melhorar o fornecimento de cuidados de saúde, potenciando o tratamento, cuidado e bem-estar de uma forma continuada, o que, eventualmente, pode aumentar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Áreas de investigação como Pervasive Healthcare tem sido propostas para tentar desenvolver a entrega de “cuidados de saúde para todos, a qualquer momento e em qualquer lugar”, e paradigmas como a Internet of Things (IoT, Internet das Coisas) propõe-se a investigar o desenvolvimento de infraestruturas interoperáveis baseadas em sensores, redes e serviços, de forma a conectar “coisas” através da Internet, potenciando os princípio propostos pela Pervasive Healthcare. No entanto, há desafios no desenvolvimento das tecnologias de sensores que devem ser investigados, de forma a poder criar e fornecer aplicações com mais-valia para cuidados de saúde. Nesta tese é apresentado o desenvolvimento e avaliação de interfaces pervasivas com sensores para aplicações de cuidados de saúde baseadas na Internet of Things. As soluções propostas tem em vista aplicações para monitorização remota de cidadãos séniores e pacientes sobre cuidados paliativos. Estas soluções foram investigadas ao 1) desenvolver três novos gateways para ligar dispositivos médicos de forma pervasiva, 2) avaliar a validade e fiabilidade de dispositivos comerciais para aplicações remotas de monitorização, e 3) avaliar as soluções desenvolvidas em lares de terceira idade, para investigar a sua viabilidade e compreender a experiência dos utilizadores com estas tecnologias. A investigação desenvolvida evidencia que combinar tecnologias de informação e comunicação disponíveis pode potenciar o desenvolvimento da IoT para a saúde. As interfaces desenvolvidas baseadas em tecnologias standard, que implicam uma configuração mínima ou nula destas, demonstrou ser uma abordagem interessante do ponto de vista dos utilizadores, uma vez que não são necessários conhecimentos avançados sobre tecnologia, tendo assim disponível mais tempo para providenciar cuidados de saúde. No entanto, é necessária mais investigação em tópicos como a standardização de dados, a validação e aceitação destas tecnologias, e os reais benefícios da sua aplicação. A disponibilidade de plataformas como as que foram desenvolvidas podem ajudar à investigação destes tópicos e, por fim, ajudar ao desenvolvimento da IoT para a saúde

Wireless authentication platform for healthcare applications

An innovative wireless authentication platform for healthcare applications is designed, implemented and tested. It acts as a Common Recognition and Identification Platform (CRIP) operating with write/read function via either NFC or biometric modules for the users' authentication. The CRIP base station architecture consists of 13.56MHz NFC/RFID and 2.4GHz IEEE standard 802.15.1 BLE modules. The Bluetooth function enables the medical device communication with the tens meter range RF link. The CRIP prototype was tested successfully in hospital environments. The blood pressure data transmission in real time was collected and monitored with an assistant living healthcare platform. Finally, the CRIP complies in conformity with the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standard EN55022 Class B requirements.This research work was supported by European Framework Program FP7 Research for the Benefit of SMEs, project FP7-SME-2012-315158-CareStore.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of caregivers’ first time use of a seamless deployment platform

The CareStore project is investigating the feasibility of creating an open and flexible infrastructure for facilitating seamless deployment of healthcare devices and applications. Such seamless deployment is relevant in order to optimize work flows and save resources, but must deliver a calm user experience in order to be effective. This paper describes a study with the aim of investigating the user experience of non-technical care staffs' first time use of a technology platform designed for supporting seamless deployment of telemedicine and ambient assisted living equipment in care facilities. We invited eight caregivers working at an assisted living ward of a North German care facility, two nurses and six otherwise trained caregivers, to go through a realistic deployment and usage scenario. The specific objectives were to: i) evaluate the feasibility of the system during first time use, and ii) gain insights into the caregivers understanding and user experience of the technology. Results indicate that the caregivers could effectively use the touch-to-install deployment system to deploy a new healthcare device and carry through measurements with the device. Also, the nurses found the system effective and easy to use in a first time context, and were optimistic about future possibilities with the system. However, more work is needed to assess the longitudinal effects of this type of seamless deployment technology, including field studies of actual daily usage.EC - European Commission(315158)The CareStore Project is funded by the European Commission as part of the Seventh Framework Program. Grant agreement no. 315158. Thank you to the eight participating caregivers and the management of SSRG, as well as to the other CareStore consortium partners.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

RF and EMC investigation on CRIP system for the e-healthcare CareStore platform

This paper is aimed to the RF coverage and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analyses of e-healthcare CareStore platform. The functioning principle of this innovative platform is described. Its RF hardware part named CRIP platform is composed of 2.4GHz BLE112 Bluetooth and NFCRFID (ISO/IEC-18092) and biometrics (ISO/IEC-19794) readers as identification functions. The RF coverage of the CRIP Bluetooth antenna system in the indoor wireless communication scenario of multi-wall floor was investigated based on the multipath channel propagation ITU model. Then, the EMC qualification test results were presented with respect to the EU conformity with IEC/EN55022 for the emission and IEC/EN61000-3-4 for the radiated immunity. It was shown that the first version of CRIP device operates correctly under the EM radiation expected with this standard. However, further improvement will be made on the second version of the CRIP by including WLAN Wi-Fi function. This version should take into account the software interface allowing to assure the healthcare data storage via could system. With this second version, the hardware circuit boards will be implemented in order to minimize the EM radiation outside the operating frequency bands.European Framework Program FP7 Research for the Benefit of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), project FP7-SME-2012-315158-CareStoreinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Eye on Patient Care: Continuous Health Monitoring: Design and Implementation of a Wireless Platform for Healthcare Applications

Wireless technologies are currently among the most prominent candidates for use by the medical and care-giving community as a part of the development of telemedicine systems [1]-[9] . The exponential progress of these technologies is expected to open a multitude of opportunities and choices for enhanced patient safety, better data collection, increased convenience for patients, and reduced costs for health systems [5]-[8] . Thanks to the cost effectiveness and clinical acceptability of wireless telecommunication technology, patient diagnosis and treatment have been significantly improved. Technology for remote sensing of patients' activity is also being de veloped.This research work was supported under the European Framework Program FP7 Research for the Benefit of SMEs, project FP7-SME-2012-315158-CareStore.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An intelligent home automation control system based on a novel heat pump and Wireless Sensor Networks

One of technology's main goals is to providing comfort to humans. However, in order to be an aid, it has to be easy to install, use and maintain. The ever growing complexity of technological systems can only be achieved by converging different technologies. This is usually expressed as Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), previews the symbiosis of several technologies in order to make them more accessible. This paper attempts to demonstrate the integration between two technologies such as: Heat-pump System and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to provide a new control mechanism for new building generations so-called smart houses. The proposed control architecture benefits from our developed WSN hardware platform. It enables the user to control and monitor the ventilation system using our developed mobile application and/or a personal computer. Also, the performance of the proposed hardware platform is measured in three different environments in order to observer the coverage area of the WSN.Tiago Gomes is supported by FCT, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grant SFRH/BD/90162/2012). This work is supported by FEDER through COMPETE and national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology in the framework of the project FCOMP-OI-0124-FEDER-022674

A wireless Sensor Network for collision detection on guardrails

This paper presents a real-Time system based on Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) capable of detecting collisions of vehicles with motorways' guardrails. The system is based on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) with web services, where the WSN and other applications, like alarm systems and management of WSNs, are connected. It is also presented a simulation based mathematical model using finite element methods, in order to improve the reliability of collision detection.Tiago Gomes is supported by FCT, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grant SFRH/BD/90162/2012). This work is supported by FEDER through COMPETE and national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology in the framework of the project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674. This work is part of the project SustIMS (Sustainable Infrastructure Management System) supported by QREN through COMPETE (n. 23113).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio