SUCCES STORY : Buddy, robot for elderly care, key to the ACCRA project funded by the EU
Faced with the aging of the European population, the development of innovative technological solutions is becoming essential. So, Buddy, robot for elderly care stands out as a promising solution to promote the autonomy, safety and well-being of seniors.
It’s in this context that the ACCRA (Agile Co-Creation of Robots for Ageing) project, funded by the European Union, has given rise to advanced social robots, including the Buddy robot, designed as a true everyday companion.
Their needs
+ Daily assistance
+ Maintaining independence
+ Combating social isolation
+ Supporting caregivers
European initiative for active aging, discover The ACCRA project
The ACCRA project, funded under the Horizon 2020 program, aims to develop innovative robotic solutions to support active and healthy aging.
Its main objective is to design technologies tailored to the real needs of older adults through a co-creation approach that directly involves end users (seniors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals).
Three application areas have been targeted:
mobility
daily life
socialization
Currently two robots have been developed: Astro (mobility) and Buddy (social companion).
a human-centered assistance robot for the elderly
Buddy is an assistance robot for the elderly designed as an intelligent home companion. Small in size and with an expressive face, it is capable of moving, communicating, and interacting with its user.
Unlike purely technical robots, Buddy focuses on the social and emotional dimension of assistance.
A connected companion robot
In short, Buddy is connected to the home environment and the internet, which allows it to:
- to interact with connected devices in the home
- facilitates communication with loved ones
- provides personalized services
Thus, it acts as an intermediary between the elderly person and their digital and family ecosystem.
Key features of Buddy
To best meet the specific needs of our clients, we have designed and developed a suite of applications and dedicated content, all designed to enrich the user experience with the Buddy robot. Furthermore, each solution has been tailored to its intended use, whether educational, recreational, informative, or interactive, to ensure seamless and relevant integration across various usage contexts.
Daily support
Thus, the robot helps seniors with their daily tasks by encouraging healthy behaviors:
- Reminders (hydration, routines)
- Decision-making support
- Assistance with household tasks
Therefore, this makes it a true assistance robot for elderly people geared towards autonomy.
Combating social isolation
Given that isolation is a major issue for seniors, Buddy addresses this problem through:
- Conversational interactions
- Social and cognitive activities
- Connecting with family
Studies of the project show that users felt a reassuring presence and an improvement in social contact.
Buddy incorporates advanced capabilities:
- Recognition and response to interactions
- Adaptation to user preferences
- Autonomous decision-making in case of an event (e.g., a fall)
Furthermore, these features enhance its role as an intelligent assistance robot for the elderly.
TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS & SOFTWARE
To best meet the specific needs of our clients, we have designed and developed a suite of applications and dedicated content to enhance the user experience with the Buddy robot. Each solution has been tailored to its intended use, whether educational, recreational, informative, or interactive, to ensure seamless and relevant integration across various usage contexts.
You can learn more about these tools by following the links below, which detail the features, objectives, and use cases of each application.
COMPAGNON
téléprésence
Buddy PLAYER
Buddy STUDIO
scénarios
Contenu
The benefits of the assistance robot for the elderly
Finally, the use of Buddy in the ACCRA project highlighted several advantages:
Maintaining autonomy
More than 70% of older people experience mobility problems but wish to remain independent.
Improvement of well-being
The robot helps to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life.
Support for caregivers
Robots like Buddy help to lighten the load for healthcare professionals and relatives.
Customer feedback and experiences
Following the pilot phase in Antibes with Buddy, ACCRA conducted an interview with a participant in the co-creation sessions and experiments. This interview with Ms. Polspoel illustrates her experience and feelings after testing Buddy for three weeks at home.
“I’m all for it, right now! Anything new, you have to try it! … You have to experiment, even if you’re older. You still need to know what’s happening right now, the developments…”
Mme Polspoel
Senior at home
EN Conclusion
For this reason, the Buddy robot, developed within the framework of the ACCRA project funded by the European Union, perfectly embodies the potential of assistive robots for the elderly.
Thus, by combining daily assistance, social interaction, and artificial intelligence, it addresses the major challenges of an aging population.
Consequently, in the future, these technologies could become key elements in home care, allowing seniors to live longer in an independent, safe, and connected manner.
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