Care support for elderly and disabled people by radar sensor technology (RADCARE)

Project summary

Background

The need for research and development on new technology in care services for elderly people relates to the present ageing of the European population and to increased needs for complex care services due to the rising number of frail and sick elderly.

Although ageing of the population is a positive and unique result of a rising standard of living, this creates challenges pertaining to care of elderly, in particular with dementia.

Development mentioned has high political priority in Norway right now. First implementations are already being carried out, but when Poland is concerned – this is still not the area where enough attention is granted.

Poland shall benefit by learning from Norway’s experiences. Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) has complementary hi-tech competence in advanced electronic and information systems which on the other hand may very well enhance care technology development in Norway.

A ground technology for modern diagnostics and prevention will be developed at WUT. Such technologies may increase safety for the elderly and help them to live more independent lives in own homes. Some social aspects will also be improved indirectly.

Objectives

The primary objective is to examine new possibilities for employing a sensor system based on impulse radar technology. Target fields are preventive care and diagnosis of different health conditions.

Advantages: A method of observation of human beings alternative to that where visual cameras are deployed, non-invasive measurements of human body movements, and selected bodily functions. Needs of work environment in the nursing home sector will be examined and applications of radar sensors able to fulfill them identified. The research results will also be useful in care support towards disabled people and in diagnostics of bodily functions for all people.

Financing and project site

The project is financed by EEA grants and Norway grant, through the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme and the Polish National Centre for Research and Development.

Project leader in Poland

Professor dr. Wiesław Winiecki, at Politechnika Warszawska Wydział Elektroniki i Technik Informacyjnych.

Method

Methods

Basic research will be performed in multidisciplinary cooperation between Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) and Bergen University College (BUC). The study has three work packages.

WP 1: System design

The main objectives of this work package are to design antennas for radar sensor and to develop embedded hardware platform. This objective also involves intensive communication on system assumptions between WUT and BUC partners. Recognition of preliminary factors that can influence next phases will be discovered. The model of hardware platform consisting of radar, antennas and processing unit will be delivered.

WP-leader: Professor Yevhen Yashchyshyn (Eugeniusz Jaszczyszyn), WUT.

WP 2: System development

The main objectives of this work package are to recognize and analyse the parameters of radar signals in the room environment. Detection of bodily functions will be examined and various algorithms for identification will be developed.

Advanced Matlab emulation will be applied to boost the research and simulation reports will be delivered. For the purpose of this phase, embedded hardware (see Work Package 1) and software platform will be designed to carry out real time experiments. Minimal platform requirements to fulfil signal processing constraints will be documented. This objective also involves intensive communication on system assumptions between WUT and BUC partners. As a result, working model of the system for laboratory tests of assumed functionality will be suggested. The model will be tested and validated in patient's close-to-real environment in BUC, Norway (see Work Package 3).

WP-leader: Professor Roman Z. Morawski, WUT.

WP 3: System integration and verification

Verification of the system model functionality in close to realistic environment at BUC, i.e. for identification of bodily movements and select bodily functions.

WP-leader: Professor Frode Fadnes Jacobsen, Centre for Care Research Western Norway, BUC.