Portal de Cartagena
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The robot has been designed gathering the needs and tastes of students of the university of seniors and associates of AFAL (Association of Relatives and Patients with Alzheimer's Disease of Cartagena and Region)
The prototype was designed by José Antonio Jiménez Viuda, in his Final Project, directed by Joaquín Francisco Roca González and co-directed by Óscar Martínez Mozos
A robot similar to an intelligent speaker, which can help reduce loneliness and combat the neurodegeneration of the elderly, is the new prototype designed by a student of the School of Industrialists of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT).
The device designed by José Antonio Jiménez Viuda, a student of Industrial Technologies, can interact with the patient through natural language and a screen through which he can show emotions to achieve closer, more empathic communication.
The robot is similar to the assistants of Google or Amazon since it can offer information and perform some tasks.
Among them make phone calls, play music, remember a medical appointment or taking medications, among others.
However, "the main objective of the robot is to alleviate the feeling of loneliness of the elderly and combat neurodegeneration," says the student, a resident of Los Alcazares.
An advantage of this robot is that it does not need an Internet connection and respects the privacy of its users.
“Google, Amazon and Apple have recognized that they record and analyze the conversations with their voice assistants,†adds Jiménez.
The robot parts can be manufactured by a conventional 3D printer in less than 11 hours.
The electronics used have a relatively low cost, less than € 100, and are easy to find in any specialized store.
To design the prototype, José Antonio Jiménez has compiled the opinions of volunteer students from the University of Seniors and associates of AFAL (Association of Relatives and Patients with Alzheimer's Disease of Cartagena and Comarca).
"The vast majority of the solutions in assistance robotics in the market have been designed for societies such as Japan, which is leading in this sector, and are not adapted to the tastes and needs of the aging population in Spain," according to Joaquin Roca González, professor of the Electronic Technology area and responsible for the Summer School of Biomedical Engineering.
The intention of the project was to get a nearby robot, which will arouse the sympathy of the elderly.
For this reason the exterior appearance of the robot has been designed based on the opinions collected and the activation words typical of voice assistants such as “Ok, Google†or “Siri†have been replaced by the more traditional expression “Hello Lola†.
“The result of the work is a robotic platform that has a voice interface and a graphic interface and has been designed to achieve the acceptance of the aging Spanish population.
The advantages of this platform is that it uses free software, does not require Internet connection and respects the privacy of its users.
This platform can be used by artists, programmers or psychologists to provide more advanced functions to the robot and thus be able to study the psychological state of patients, detect the onset of mental illnesses at an early stage or combat neurodegeneration, â€adds José Antonio Jiménez Viuda .
The prototype, developed within the Final Degree Project “Design and manufacture of a robot with voice interface for the assistance of the elderlyâ€, has received the highest rating, outstanding 10. The Court has applied for honors.
The results of the TFG will be integrated into the assistance robot that are being co-directed by Labor, Joaquín Roca and Óscar Mozos, in a project of the Challenges call, of the National Plan, which is carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Carlos III University.
Jose Antonio Jiménez is a member of the UPCT Makers student association, dedicated to research and technological development, where he has already developed a 3D printed arm prosthesis controlled by myoelectric form.
Source: UPCT
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