Objectif NESTOR aims at assisting caretakers in hospitals and healthcare centers, by using a robotic courier to reduce low added-value tasks such as pushing trolleys along corridors. Several European technologies will be combined to reach this goal. A strong emphasis on dissemination strategy is made to propose a European better and cheaper alternative to a fast-growing US system, but also to open such a robotic courier to other markets than only hospitals, such as office buildings. NESTOR has 3 complementary objectives :1/ Assisting caretakers : the use of automation may help while the number of working people decreases and the number of caretakers remains at least the same. NESTOR aims at reducing low added-value tasks done by caretakers in developing an on-demand automated transport assisting device to move materials, equipments, meal trays, instruments, pharmaceuticals, medical records, samples, mail, packages, video cameras ...2/ Studying non-technical issues related to the introduction of robots in hospitals, mainly their acceptance by caretakers, patients and visitors3/ Developing a European competitor to a similar fast growing US equipment (Helpmate)Two prototypes for real sites trials will be built, merging 3 European validated technologies :1/ a modular autonomous platform including a container,2/ a trackless navigation system and its fleet management software,3/ an internet-based man-machine interface, to give this new equipment a universal accessibility and increase its acceptance.The major improvement of NESTOR over its US competitor will be its capability to automatically load/unload a specific container. This feature, which has been identified after current users interviews, will be protected by a patent, to secure future sales of NESTOR.After a short conceptual design of a few months, the 2 systems will be built at T0+12 and be fully operational on sites at T0+13, leaving almost 12 full months for the 2 site trials, one in Denmark and the other in Germany. The purpose of the trials is to validate the technology, but first of all to investigate the identified non-technical issues :1/ the working re-organization needed to efficiently use such a device,2/ the level of acceptance of a robot by caretakers, patients and visitors. NESTOR trials aim at showing that robots will help human workers and not replace them.An end-users panel will be set up to help driving non-technical issues investigation, but also for promotion in hospitals and other areas, such as office buildings..The dissemination will start very soon, right after the conceptual design, in 3 directions : 1/ towards other hospitals, through an end-users panel, 2/ towards leasing companies, which are privileged channels to sell this type of equipment, 3/ towards other potential applications (transport in offices and factories). Champ scientifique natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwareengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugssocial sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationsocial sciencessocial geographytransportnavigation systems Programme(s) FP5-INNOVATION-SME - Research, technological development and demonstration programme which aims to promote innovation and encourage the participation of small and medium sized enterprises, 1998-2002 Thème(s) Data not available Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement Data not available Coordinateur ROBOSOFT SA Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Technopole d'Izarbel BIDART France Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée