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DEVELOPMENT OF A MODULAR COMPANION ROBOT FOR THE ELDERLY

The goal of this project is to explore mechanisms that could be incorporated into the G.E.N.A.I. modular elderly assistance robot that would enable it to support its elderly consumer [1]. With today’s trend for advances in health care, people are living much longer than before. Increasing age is typically accompanied by increasing health care costs. To alleviate some of this stress, an autonomous elderly assistance robot has been prototyped. This work explores several mechanisms to enable the robot to shadow the consumer and concludes that triangulation via color-based cameras would be the optimal solution for the G.E.N.A.I. application. The cameras were not obtainable over the short scope of the project and so a triangulation system using ultrasound transceivers was employed instead. Testing is performed and while determination of distance to the target is accurate, the direction carries an error to the point of being unacceptable. The study reevaluates the method of calculation and switches from exact triangulation to a different system that closely approximates direction. Upon completion of testing, the “following” mechanism is incorporated into the G.E.N.A.I. robot with very successful results. The robot locates its target and maintains a desirable distance for effective service. Modularity is illustrated by integrating both a blood pressure diagnostic accessory and a medication organization accessory into the G.E.N.A.I. robot via universal “discs”. Upon realization that complete autonomy lacks essential flexibility, a voice interface is implemented. Finally, an ultrasound array proximity system is explored. Modularity is emphasized and continued “geriatric engineering” is promoted.