Multi-agent systems orientated to assist with daily activities in the homes of elderly and disabled people

Abstract

This chapter will describe the objectives and elements of a multi-agent system and in particular, the state-of-the-art of the multi-agents systems orientated to helping elderly and disabled people carry out their daily activities at home. The typical agent models and roles of these multi-agents systems, their requirements, their physical devices such as robots or programmes and their communication methods will be described. As an example, a particular case of a multi-agent system will be described. It is designed in order to assist elderly and disabled people living alone in their homes. Its main objective is to prevent risky situations by monitoring key variables of their daily life. This example will describe the methodology used for the development of the agents and their different roles related to the acquisition of information, the processing of it and the alternative methods used for communicating among the different human participants involved. © 2012 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.