Improving the Technology

Readyness Level of the

Mini Robot (MeNiR)

Grant PDC2022-133518-I00

Funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR:

New technologies, including robotics, can help older people live autonomously for as long as possible in their private homes. Robots can offer functions related to company, entertainment, stimulation, assistance, communication with the elderly or remote supervision by family members and caregivers. To this end, the research group has designed the Mini robot.

Mini is an advanced and versatile robotic platform that can perform a wide range of assistive and entertainment activities for the elderly. This robot has been designed to maintain their functional abilities and improve their quality of life. Nevetheless, the robots built in the research projects are laboratory prototypes, and they are not robust enough to be used intensively in real environments. In addition, some of the elements of the Mini robot are built and assembled by hand, which does not facilitate mass production of the robot if it is to be marketed.

In this proof of concept project, MeNIR, the Mini robot will be redesigned, trying to improve these two aspects: robustness and the ease of being mass-produced.