GUARDIAN

About

GUARDIAN (GUidance and Assistance for Resilient Daily Independence and Aging for elderly in Need through a sensor-based AI-Assistant) is developing an intelligent home monitoring system with AI-powered voice assistance designed to enable older adults to live independently, safely and cognitively actively in their own homes. The system combines contactless sensor technology, voice interaction and psychometric monitoring to identify risks at an early stage, support everyday activities and promote social participation.

The project is being carried out jointly by LAROMED GmbH, DFKI and Fraunhofer IMTE.

Opportunity

The number of older adults living alone continues to increase, while care professionals and support services are becoming increasingly scarce. Many older people face risks such as:

• Falls and emergency situations
• Cognitive decline
• Physical inactivity
• Social isolation and loneliness
• Lack of structure in everyday life

Existing assistive technologies often address only individual aspects, such as emergency alerts or smart home control, rather than providing comprehensive, personalised support. Furthermore, challenges remain regarding data protection, user acceptance and the long-term integration of such technologies into everyday life.

Solution/Product Description

GUARDIAN is developing a "digital guardian angel" for the home environment of older adults. The system consists of three key components:

1. Sensor-Based Home Monitoring

A networked sensor system monitors activities and behavioural patterns without physical contact, using:

• Motion, door, bed, light and temperature sensors
• Emergency detection sensors and critical event recognition
• Local data processing and secure communication

2. AI-Powered Voice Assistance

Sensor data are interpreted using AI-based models and translated into age-appropriate interactions. The system:

• Provides reminders for medication, hydration and appointments
• Encourages physical activity and cognitive engagement
• Identifies potential risks and hazards
• Enables voice control
• Uses text-to-speech and speech-to-text technologies
• Combines acoustic, visual and spoken communication

3. Psychometric Screening

A newly developed dialogue-based screening tool unobtrusively assesses indicators of:

• Cognitive changes
• Well-being
• Perceived safety
• Emotional state

The questions are discreetly integrated into everyday conversations, and the screening approach is scientifically validated.

Why us

GUARDIAN distinguishes itself from existing assistive systems by combining several approaches that have largely been implemented separately:

• Integration of contactless home monitoring sensors, LLM-based voice assistance and psychometric monitoring
• Focus on prevention, engagement and well-being rather than solely on emergency detection
• User-centred development through co-design with older adults, relatives and care professionals
• Data protection and ethical considerations based on the principle of "Privacy by Design"
• Implicit assessment of cognitive and emotional states through dialogue-based AI rather than conventional questionnaires
• Transferable and scalable system design with potential applications in other areas of digital care assistance