In the project OmniConnect, we are developing an app-based home assistant in cooperation with our partners. Because it recognises the status of objects, the assistant enables the user to see, for example, the location of misplaced items or whether household appliances are switched on or off. Furthermore, this information can also be made accessible to relatives or care givers, provided the user agrees.

The objects being tracked are equipped with passive tags measuring about 1 - 2 cm², the location of which can be detected via a 60GHz MIMO radar with an accuracy of about 5 cm. The energy for the tags is obtained from the radar signal, so neither batteries nor other energy sources are needed.

Besides the project coordination, HFC is responsible for the design of the user interfaces and user research within the framework of the user-centred design process. Thus, an expert group of potential users was set up at the beginning of the project. At regular intervals, the experts gave us feedback on the project developments, e.g. on the interactive app or the voice control. At the end of the project, the technologies are tested in a home lab with the users in a real environment.

This research and development project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the programme „Innovations- und Technologiepartnerschaften für die Mensch-Technik-Interaktion: Intelligente, vernetzte Gegenstände für den Alltag“ (funding code 16SV8307).