Giraff+: Combining social interaction and long term monitoring for promoting independent living

The Giraff+ project aims at developing a system consisting of a network of home sensors that can be automatically configured to collect data for a range of monitoring services; a semi-autonomous telepresence robot; a sophisticated context recognition system that can give high-level and long term interpretations of the collected data and respond to certain events; and personalized services delivered through adaptive user interfaces for primary users.

The system will perform a range of services including data collection and analysis of long term trends in behaviours and physiological parameters (e,g, relating to sleep or daily activity); warnings, alarms and reminders; and social interaction through the telepresence robot. The latter is based on the Giraff telepresence robot, which is already in place in a number of homes. The social services of the Giraff robot have the advantage of making the system potentially more attractive to users in an initial phase. The system can then be adapted to additional users needs. Particular emphasis is put on user evaluation outside the laboratories. A distinctive aspect of the project is that the Giraff+ system will be installed and evaluated in at least 15 homes of elderly people distributed in three European countries (Sweden, Italy and Spain). These evaluations will drive the development of the Giraff+ system. The concept of “useworthiness” will be central in order to assure that the Giraff+ system provides services that are easy and worth using. In addition, by using existing and affordable components (besides the Giraff robot also sensors from two participating companies: Tunstall and IntelliCare) we strive to achieve a system that is affordable and close to commercialization.

The Giraff robot and a set of networked sensors are used to monitor the activity of the elderly and transmit the information to different users, e.g. family, friends, caregiver, etc.

Project data: Small or medium-scale focused research project (STREP)  ICT Call 7 FP7-ICT-2011-7 
Combing social interaction and long term monitoring for promoting independent living Giraff+ 
Work programme topic addressed: ICT-2011.5.4 b) Smart and self-adaptive environments prolonging independent living
Contact person: Javier Gonzalez

The Consortium

The consortium of the Giraff project involves institutions and companies from six countries:

Participant organisation name Country 
Örebro universitet (Coordinator)
Sweden
Lund universitet 
Sweden
Universidad de Malaga 
Spain
Giraff Technologies AB 
Sweden
Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche  CNR-ISTC
Italy
Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche ISTI
Italy
IntelliCare – Intelligent Sensing in Healthcare, Lda 
Portugal
Tunstall Healthcare 
UK
Mälardalen universitet 
Sweden
Örebro County Council 
Sweden
XLAB
Slovenia 
Azienda sanitaria locale Roma/A
Italy
Distrito sanitario Costa del Sol Spain

One of the major responsabilities of the MAPIR group in this project aim at improving the mobility of the Giraff platform and coordinating the integration of the different sensors and components within a functional prototype.

Three major issues will be addressed here:

  1. Reliable but inexpensive surrounding perception. Among other alternatives we will study short range laser scanner and recently appeared 3D cameras (Kinect, from Microsoft). 
  2. Giraff self-localization. We will implement specific self-positioning algorithms based on the data provided by the selected sensor. 
  3. Reactive navigation to nearby places. This requires the implementation of algorithms for free space detection and Giraff motion generation toward the target while taking into account non-holonomic constraints and the shape of the platform.

Mass Media

European Comission Press release on GiraffPlus
Video demonstration of the GiraffPlus system at month 30

Some International press release:

Spanish mass media have covered the results of the GiraffPlus project (please visit giraffplus.eu for a complete and updated list):

16/09/2014canalsur
20/05/2014Heraldo.es
20/05/2014diariodejerez.es
20/05/2014Malagahoy.es
20/05/2014periodistadigital.com
20/05/2014europasur.es
20/05/2014elalmeria.es
20/05/2014laopiniondemalaga.es
12/05/2014elmeridianodecordoba.com.co
13/05/2014laflecha.net
15/05/2014actualyciencia.es
15/05/2014revistadeinnovacion.com
19/05/2014elconfidencial.com
19/05/2014ciencicola.com
19/05/2014larazon.es (La Razon Digital)
19/05/2014Actualidades.es
20/05/2014periodistadigital.com
20/05/2014eldiadecordoba.es
20/05/2014diariodesevilla.es
20/05/2014diariodecadiz.es
05/05/2014agenciasinc.es
05/05/2014Antena3.com
05/05/2014Cadenaser
05/05/2014eldiario.es
05/05/2014Larazon.es
05/05/2014Noticias.com
05/05/2014presspeople.com
05/05/2014telecinco.es
05/05/2014tribunasur.es
06/05/2014Cuatro.com
06/05/2014elboletin.com
06/05/2014eleconomista.es
06/05/2014ibercampus.es
06/05/2014La Gaceta De Los Negocios Online
06/05/2014solidaridaddigital.com
07/05/2014Telecomkh.com
11/05/2014cuentamealgobueno.com

Publications

Publications in the scope of this project:

Similar Posts