'Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)'
Doi
Abstract
This paper presents the full experience of
designing, developing and testing ASTROMOBILE, a system
composed of an enhanced robotic platform integrated in an
Ambient Intelligent (AmI) infrastructure that was conceived to
provide favourable independent living, improved quality of life
and efficiency of care for senior citizens. The design and
implementation of ASTRO robot was sustained by a
multidisciplinary team in which technology developers,
designers and end-user representatives collaborated using a
user-centred design approach. The key point of this work is to
demonstrate the general feasibility and scientific/technical
effectiveness of a mobile robotic platform integrated in a smart
environment and conceived to provide useful services to humans
and in particular to elderly people in domestic environments.
The main aspects faced in this paper are related to the design of
the ASTRO’s appearance and functionalities by means of a
substantial analysis of users’ requirements, the improvement of
the ASTRO’s behaviour by means of a smart sensor network
able to share information with the robot (Ubiquitous Robotics)
and the development of advanced human robot interfaces based
on natural language
