Location recognition for elderly-care robot services using received signal strength indicator and light sensors

In this paper, we present a method of location recognition for elderly-care robot services in an indoor environment. In the proposed method, the user's location is determined more accurately through a fusion process of the available received signal strength indicator (RSSI) information and light sensor information using a wearable device. All the information is sent and stored in a server through a wireless sensor network. An acting user's device obtains the RSSI information of the neighboring fixed nodes. It also gathers illumination information in each node and extracts the feature data. The information is sent to the server wirelessly over the sensor network. The location is determined based on the fusion feature information. The proposed recognition function of the location is useful in the location tracking of elderly persons faced with an emergency situation in a nursing facility.