The SYSIASS project focuses on technological advancement in order to enable healthcare professionals in the 2 Seas area to take up new technology to assist with their healthcare provision. This project aims at developing an intelligent wheelchair prototype with a novel human-machine interface. This wheelchair is either controlled by the patient or autonomously and additionally provides secure communication of healthcare related data. Some algorithms developed in ACOS (a former Interreg IIIA project) can be re-used for specific aspects of the wheelchair navigation, however, it is necessary to develop new algorithms as the environment in which the chair operates is more complex and a higher level of security is required. Additional partner organisations have been included to address the significant technical challenge and specific healthcare organisations are involved to give a highly practical perspective to the project. Expected Results: What are the key results of the project?The specific outputs will consist of:New algorithms for localisation, navigation strategies and obstacle avoidance- Definition of the functionalities of the intelligent wheelchair- Intelligent wheelchair instrumentation: choice and integration of sensors, actuators, and computer interface according to needs expressed by the medical staff/users- New algorithms of the localisation of the wheelchair and dynamic obstacles detection- New strategies of navigation of the wheelchair in an unknown and dynamic environment.- Results of experiments on the test bench.A prototype system to allow for the efficient and secure use of wireless communications within a hospital environment.- a system to generate encryption keys directly from properties of electronic devices and uniquely verify the identity of given electronic devices.- a system for the control and management of panels which can either allow or prevent the passage of wireless communications through them.Progressing research- new novel multi-modal human-machine interfaces by integration of voice control, gesture control, brain and muscle actuated control etc. in order to meet the needs of different users.- Functions such as multi-media interface and new wireless communication methods will be adopted in the proposed human-machine interface.- develop some intelligent wheelchair prototypes responding to the defined scenarios according to user and medical staff needs.Are all partners and territories benefitting from the results?The proposal seeks to improve the quality of healthcare provision to the population in general and in medical establishments in particular via the provision of automated guided wheelchairs and address the associated data security and communications issues via the provision of an adaptable intelligent communications channel to the wheelchairs. The potential impact of merging the currently distinct areas of advanced technology identified in the proposal on the Healthcare domain is major. Benefits to healthcare professionals include; increased efficiency in the administration and distribution of medication to patients at the point of delivery; ensuring up to date medical records are available at all times; improved patient monitoring and ease of access to medical care; reduced occurrence of mis-administration of medicines and its associated consequences.The final beneficiaries fall into two categories:- Medical practitioners who will have access to secure medical data and facilities at the point of delivery incorporating an automated guidance facility- Patients who will benefit from the advantages of an automated guided wheelchair with secure communications facilities both at a medical establishment and within their own home. The setting up of the intelligent device for the users wheelchairs will give them more autonomy in their everyday life and will improve their comfort. The elderly and the diabled will stand to benefit in particular from the results of this project.What are the effects / outcomes for the territories involved?The successful applications of human machine interaction will greatly improve the quality of life for the elderly and disabled people with spinal cord injuries and neuromuscular impairments enabling access to remote healthcare provision, significantly improving the quality of life of the patient. The developed hands-free human-machine interfaces will probably change the way people communicate with machines, and enable intelligent wheelchairs/service robots to be widely deployed in our society apart from the disabled and elderly people. Disabled people will participate in the clinical trials and find that the use of the intelligent wheelchair and the proposed hand free human machine can improve their quality of life. The developed hands-free human-machine interfaces and intelligent wheelchairs will keep making news for years to come, which will help get the young generation in both France and the UK more interested in studying science and engineering at the university level increasing innovation in this sector for the future.