> Just been to the Kadina web site. I see you are interested
>> in privately developing hardware/software solutions for
>> independent living for the elderly and disabled.
>
>> This should be a real growth area in our aging population,
>> at least Japan thinks so.
>
>
>> I visited a relative in aged care who is still youngish
>> but suffered a stroke. If only he had a robot he could
>> command to look after his needs, for the understaffed
>> home for the aged cater to their needs first. I couldn't
>> get anyone interested in his plight.
>
>
>> Robots might not have feelings but they could turn out
>> to be the best friend you have.
>
>
>
> ...
Matthew Smith wrote:
> Just to explain myself a little...
>
>
> The concept that John found on my site goes beyond a
> single robotic entity that can scoot around after
> someone and "lend a hand". In fact, a mobile robot
> is actually an optional (but too fun and interesting
> to ignore!) part of the project.
>
>
> The core of the idea is home (or office) automation,
> but rather than being aimed at people who may be
> gadget freaks (or just plain lazy), the automation I
> have in mind is intended to push someone who is not
> quite capable of independent living, back into a
> self-sufficient way of life.
>
>
> Inputs could include:
> * Client position tracking (what room are they in?
> have they fallen over in the shower?) - could be
> achieved with standard security hardware (PIRs,
> door beams, pressure mats, LAN cameras) * Room
> temperature * Weather (get HVAC* running BEFORE it
> gets too cold/hot inside, get washing in if raining,
> don't bother watering garden, etc) * Sensors on any
> dangerous equipment (cookers, toasters, heaters
> [temperature as well as CO for gas-fired equipment])
> * Personal alarm - this could be the traditional
> radio pendant or even microphones in all rooms
> feeding into speech recognition software; voice
> control could also be associated with lighting,
> HVAC, etc. * Monitoring for problems in bath/shower
> /toilet
>
> * Smoke detectors
> * Soil humidity (for irrigation)
> * Pump monitoring (if not on mains water; also shower and >
circulating pumps)
>
> Outputs:
> * HVAC
> * Shut-off of dangerous equipment mentioned above
> * Lighting
> * Electric door strikes
> * Bath hoists
> * Audible/visible alarms
> * Pumps
> * Fire-fighting
> * Irrigation
>
>
> Network:
> * DSL connection to monitoring centre via Internet/VPN;
> dial-up modem as backup
> * Internet -> SMS messaging to notify family/friends of >
non-critical alerts
>
> Essential Movies ;-)
> * Demon Seed
> * 2001 A Space Odyssey
>
>
> I've got some of the environmental monitoring working
> and have other bits under construction. (See weather
> page on my personal site) Irrigation partly done, pumps
> about to be put under "intelligent" control. About to
> put together a light barrier that determines direction
> of travel - handy for client tracking.
>
>
> My reason for joining this newsgroup is looking for
> inspiration/assistance in putting something mobile
> together, my first mobile project being a wheelbarrow
> /mobile platform that can assist in fetching firewood
> from the log pile and move the laundry basket around
> as one hangs out the washing.
>
> Phase II would be an indoor model (drone or scutter,
> depending on ones choice of viewing); although I can
> see various assistance roles that could be performed
> for disabled/elderly, I have to confess that I just
> want something that will carry my beer fermenters to
> /from kitchen and laundry, saving my back and
> preventing sloshing!
Why not pipe it?
There comes a point when the cost of a lot of special purpose machines in an intelligent house will equal the cost of a general purpose robot. A general purpose robot would adapt to each house and its set of special purpose appliances and physical layouts.
A general purpose robot could do all the things you mention above. The cost of an "intelligent" house is high. A flexible robot could configure into a bath (or bed) hoist. It could monitor smoke, temperature and monitoring people, animals, etc can be done by cheap (less than $30) web cams with intelligent software.
- John Casey
> * HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
>
>
>