AeroboX: A Drone-Based Multi-Environmental Responsive Urban Facility in Hazards Detection and Prevention for the Elderly
摘要
Recent research has highlighted drones as the emerging application of assistive technology (AT) in age-friendly design. However, existing assistive drones are often limited to single-scenario applications such as locating or fall detection, which fall short in complex urban outdoor environments. This study proposes AeroboX, an Arduino-based drone prototype that integrates environmental sensors and an AI vision camera to assist the elderly in avoiding urban outdoor risks such as falls, infections, and traffic hazards. Based on a scenario-driven design research framework, the paper develops a drone-based prototype as a mobile urban facility that can continuously and autonomously interact with users and urban outdoor environment by performing functions such as traffic signal and obstacle recognition, hazard alarming, and sun exposure protection. The results of the feasibility test validate the prototype’s effectiveness, providing new insights into drones as cognitive augmentation for the elderly to build an aging-friendly life circle and an inclusive city.