[Video] Experiment'Haal: a living lab for intelligent living and autonomy

A real-life laboratory for experimentation

One of Experiment'Haal's key strengths is its ability to test services and devices under in situ conditions, prior to large-scale deployment. This enables researchers to validate the acceptability,ergonomics, reliability and social utility of innovations with real users.

The platform is part of the Forum LLSA® (Living Labs Santé & Autonomie) network, which enables it to be part of a national collaborative dynamic around living labs in the health/autonomy sector.

It is also used by members of the HAAL inter-pole action (CNRS UMR 6285 Lab-STICC), reinforcing its role in the synergy between academic laboratories and technology platforms.

An infrastructure built around 4 complementary areas

To cover all phases of development, testing and evaluation, Experiment'Haal has four dedicated areas:

1. The "real habitat" apartment
   This space simulates a complete home (kitchen, bathroom, living/dining room). It is equipped with connected furniture, various sensors, actuators and home automation devices (intercom, connected blinds, videoconferencing systems, etc.). Volunteers experiment with the services developed to assess their actual use.

2. The control room / user test room
   A space dedicated to testing with users, often to evaluate interface ergonomics. A one-way glass window is used to conduct tests directly with researchers, ergonomists, sociologists and users.

3. The robotics room
   The robotics room is home to a wide range of projects involving robots (assistance robotics, intelligent human-robot tutoring, functional rehabilitation, movement learning), enabling complex scenarios to be experimented with.

4. Technical/machine room
   This room houses servers, workstations and technical infrastructure (sensors, control systems, interconnections). Students and partners can work directly in this room to prototype and fine-tune solutions.

Available equipment and technologies

Experiment'Haal boasts an extensive technology park, available for collaborative projects:

• Companion robots (Pepper, Poppy, NAO, RB1 Robotnik, etc.)

• Sensitive flooring (SensFloor) for fall detection and alert scenarios

• Motion capture systems (Optitrack, xSENS, Kinect...)

• 3D, infrared and remote-controlled cameras

• Furniture, sensors & actuators interconnected via home automation protocols (e.g. xAAL)

• Sensors for smoke, presence, door opening, water leakage, electricity consumption, etc.

• Standard home automation equipment: blinds, intercoms, controlled sockets, etc.

• Measurement and interaction infrastructure to capture interactions between users and devices.

This diversity of equipment enables us to simulate a wide range of usage scenarios and put a wide variety of technologies to the test.

A user-centered, societal approach

The methodology adopted on the platform is based on close co-design between technical teams (engineers, developers) and human science specialists (sociologists, ergonomists).

• Upstream, the needs and expectations of target populations (the elderly, people with disabilities) are studied, to guide the development of devices.

• Prototypes are then tested with representative "samples" of users, in real-life conditions, to analyze usage, obstacles and necessary adjustments.

• Finally, user feedback is used to iterate, adjust solutions and confirm their social utility.

This approach ensures that developments do not remain purely technological, but genuinely meet the needs of end-users and integrate seamlessly into their daily lives.

Emblematic projects supported by Experiment'Haal

Several initiatives illustrate the possibilities offered by the platform:

• VITAAL: funded as part of the State-Region plan for Brittany (2015-2020), this project aims to combat the isolation of frail people through Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies.

• KERAAL: part of the European ECHORD++ program, this project aims to design a humanoid robot capable of providing personalized assistance to patients in rehabilitation activities. It brings together IMT Atlantique, CHRU Brest (rehabilitation department) and Génération Robot.

• AMUSAAL: a regional project dedicated to the automated analysis of complex movements. It aims to break down human movements into unitary sequences in order to provide interpretation and assistance tools.

• Maintien@Domicile Chair: run in partnership with ENSIBS and the Kerpape rehabilitation center, this program focuses on homecare technologies.

• ECFvisuL & FCEvaL: funded by the Brittany region, the Finistère departmental council and the Carnot TSN institute, these projects aim to develop a computer vision-based approach to assessing a patient's functional capabilities.

A flexible partnership offer for external players

Experiment'Haal offers industrial, academic and institutional partners access to its space and equipment, under adapted terms and conditions (collaborative projects, shared funding, provision of resources).

This openness enables us to enhance the value of our innovations, accelerate their maturity, and facilitate their transfer to the market.

A pillar of the "industry of the future" ecosystem at IMT Atlantique

The Experiment'Haal infrastructure is part of IMT Atlantique's network of platforms of excellence, covering the fields of energy, the environment and digital life. It contributes to making the school a dynamic player in the industrialization of the innovations of the future.

The school's platforms act as catalysts for technology transfer, training in cutting-edge tools, and support for innovative SMEs.