Dipartimento di Ingegneria informatica, automatica e gestionale

The world population currently counts more of 617 million people over 65 years old. COVID-19 has exposed this population group to new restrictions, leading to new difficulties in care and assistance by family members. New technologies can reduce the degree of isolation of these people, helping them in the execution of healthy activities such as performing periodic sports routines. NAO robots find in this a possible application; being able to alternate voice commands and execution of movements, they can guide elderly people in performing gymnastic exercises. Additional encouragement could come through demonstrations of the exercises and verbal interactions using the voice of loved ones (for example, grandchildren). These are transmitted in real time to the NAO which streams the video of older people exercising, bringing the two parties involved closer together. This proposal, realized with the robot NAO V6, allows to have a help at home ready to motivate, teach the exercises and train the elderly living alone at home.