Design, development and testing of a low cost pet-like care-bot
 Czech Republic |
Czech Technical University |
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Early Stage Researcher (ESR)
Jaroslav Cibulka
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Supervisor(s)
Prof. Olga Stepankova
Dr. Lenka Lhotska
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My name is Jaroslav Cibulka, currently working as ESR-ITN-MSCA fellow at The Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CIIRC CTU). My project is “Design, development and testing of a low cost pet-like care-bot, in connection with IoT, as a source of interventions for patients with dementia”. I have master’s degree in mechanical engineering (University of West Bohemia, Pilsen). During the course of my career, I have been drifted from industrial towards multidisciplinary societal challenges. My current research focus is within robotics, assistive technology and non-invasive medical technology. I have gained practical research experience in autonomous robotics and non-invasive medical technology (fNIRS brain neuroimaging, motion analysis, wearable physio-telemetry etc.) as a research engineer at the Oslo Metropolitan University. My goal in DISTINCT is to contribute towards improving the care and quality of life of people with dementia and thus reduce the burden of caregivers and relatives. |
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| Start date | October 2019 |
| Duration | 36 months |
Objectives
To apply participatory principles in design and development of a low cost pet-like care-bot intended to call attention of its “master” to the important tasks of daily routine (eg taking medication, phoning a friend) that the person tends to forget, and which have not been completed on time (the care-bot deduces this from smart home sensors data). First, the ESR has to review the types of reminders that can be applied in this context (e.g. using sounds or simple voice technology) and design an experiment for testing their acceptance by different users during a field study. The ESR will run and evaluate a field study involving several users of the technology: to test the suggested reminders; to identify conditions that influence level of attention the user pays to the reminder; to contribute to design of appropriate solutions for the situation when the user ignores the reminder. To identify those care-bot’s functionalities that respect best the user’s requirements.
Expected Results
The ESR will become a member of the care-bot development team responsible for design and testing of appropriate user-friendly modes of communication (including reminders) between the care-bot and its user based on participatory design, a simple procedure leading to creation of a personalized solution for the individual user through the choice of appropriate vocabulary, communication language etc. The ESR will refine the choice of language technology to produce quickly the care-bot that will communicate in any language of the project partners so it can be tested during the planned secondments. The SW implementation of the care-bot will be inspired by the robot MARIO’S frame based SW architecture and possibilities of cooperation between the produced care-bot and MARIO will be considered.
Planned secondment(s)
Two for 3 months each. The first in year one with NUIG to learn different aspects of robotic technology and the second with UoB looking at how smart home technology can work with robotics.
Dissemination
Presentations:
- Cibulka, J., Lhotska, L., & Stepankova, O. (2022, 17-19 October). Main findings of the DISTINCT projects on technology to promote social health [Symposium presentation]. 32nd Alzheimer Europe Conference. Bucharest, Romania.