Optimizing Senior Living with Robots: A User Study on Social and Architectural Integration

This research investigates the integration of Humanoid Assistance Robots into senior living environments to enhance independence and reduce the burden on caregivers. The user study of this paper was conducted to identify the housing needs of seniors and their openness to assistive technology, focusing on their technical competence and preferences for daily task assistance. The findings show a general openness towards technology that is intuitive and easily accessible. The participants strongly favored robotic assistance for physically demanding and repetitive chores but preferred human support for tasks requiring physical and emotional closeness. The results also highlight the need for ergonomic and accessible design. In the context of our Project JuBot at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the survey is relevant for the development of our humanoid robot ARMAR and a user-centered living typology. The project aims to enhance safety, independence, and autonomy by balancing technological assistance with human interaction.