Eldercare robotics revolution-explaining robotics for eldercare

Abstract

This paper examines the issue of providing appropriate and attentive care to an elderly population that is increasing. Using a TurtleBot 2 and a NAO robot, experiments were developed to test a number of ways in which robots might be used to improve the health and safety of an elderly person within his/her own home. A number of simulations were run in the lab in order to generate insight regarding the viability of implementing these robots in a real world setting. The tasks that the robots attempted addressed the following goals: remind an elderly person that it is time to take medication; determine if no motion has been detected in the home for n hours, locate the elderly person, and contact emergency services if necessary; and guide the elderly person out of his home in case of fire/emergency.