ALMA

ALMA aims to support the autonomous mobility, navigation, and orientation of the mobility-impaired person (elderly and/or temporarily or permanently disabled person) through the realisation and combination of a set of advanced hw/sw technologies into an integrated and modular cost-effective system composed by: (i) an indoor localisation system based on a network of low-cost/low-power RF emitters, to provide room level localisation of people and objects: (ii) an ad-hoc, autonomic hw/sw system based on networked smart cameras providing accurate indoor and outdoor localisation, environment monitoring, and situation assessment; (iii) a system for online planning and scheduling of users’ paths and activities, matching users’ specific needs with the state of the environment and of resources; (iv) a Personal Mobility Kit for electric powered wheelchairs, allowing them to perform automatic or assisted navigation and to interact with the surrounding environment; (v) a Personal Navigation Assistant, providing a user-friendly interface to all ALMA functionalities, tailored to the specific user requirements and physical limitations.

Two pilot applications, presenting different scenarios and therapeutic issues for both primary (elderly, rehabilitation patients) and secondary (care givers) end-users will guide project development. They will also provide on-field assessment of the produced technology, both as a fully integrated system and as a subset of interacting modules.

Objectives

The objective of ALMA is to provide a modular, low-cost, integrated system to support autonomous mobility and orientation for the elder and, more in general, for the person with cognitive and/or mobility impairments. ALMA will develop a set of modules that can work in isolation or in cooperation, for: localisation, tracking, path planning and navigation, service search and scheduling, autonomous wheelchair mobility, and interfacing with the user.

Expected results and impact

The project will results in a set of modules for navigation, localisation, planning, monitoring, and interfacing, that can be assembled and configured according to different needs, budgets, and available resources. The ALMA modules/system will target a number of different scenarios, ranging from the individual use in domestic environments to the multiple and collective use in large care- and assistance-giving facilities, where they can be conveniently integrated with existing hw/sw technologies.

Partners

Partners involved in the ALMA project

Organization	Type	Country	Website
Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI)	R&D	Switzerland	www.supsi.ch
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Elettronica e Informazione	R&D	Italy	www.polimi.it
Info Solution SpA	SME	Italy	www.infosolution.it
VCA Technology Ltd.	SME	United Kingdom	www.vcatechnology.com
Istituti Sociali di Chiasso	End User	Switzerland	www.chiasso.ch
Clinica Hildebrand	End User	Switzerland	www.clinica-hildebrand.ch
University of Wurzburg, Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Justice, Legal Theory, Information and Computer Science Law	R&D	Germany	www.uni-wuerzburg.de
Degonda Rehab SA	SME	Switzerland	www.degonda.ch

Project name: ALMA: Ageing without Losing Mobility and Autonomy
Website: http://www.alma-aal.org/
Coordinator: Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI)
Duration: 36 Months
Starting Date: 02.04.2013
Total budget: € 2.997.526
Public contribution: € 1.435.220

Contact

Gianni Di Caro

E.: gianni@idsia.ch

T.: +41 76 2203264