Research lines

We focus our research on all the layers of the IoT:

Dust

The electronic design of the things -the dust of the IoT- with an emphasis on

• sensorization technologies
• ultra-low power systems
• energy harvesting from the environment

The wireless and location networks that provide communications in heterogenous rough scenarios such as the mountains, the ocean, underground, dense urban areas, buildings, etc. We enjoy evaluating the latest technologies as they appear (5G, ZigBee, Thread, BLE, LoraWAN, Sigfox, etc.) and their application to IoT.

The artificial intelligence techniques specifically designed to run inside microcontrollers embedded systems (machine learning, pattern recognition, data compression and codification, etc.).

Edge

The electronic design of edge gateways and their intelligence -key elements for efficient deployment- where devices integrate, interoperate and connect with the cloud.

Cloud

IoT cloud infrastructures where the devices are managed, sensor data is received, visualized and value is created using machine learning.

The human-human; human-animal and animal-animal interaction and technology; the design of methods based on design thinking, service design, co-design, user-centered design, x-disciplinarity (various levels of multidisciplinarity).

Product and service design methodologies includes work on:

• Applied design thinking
• Design and prototyping
• Person-technology interaction
• Methods based on Design Thinking, Service Design, Co-design, User-Centered Design, Design for All, Living Labs
• Evaluation methodologies with users
• Design of methods and methodologies for the design and management of multidisciplinary teams

As an extension of the smart city concept to the rest of the territory, this application area focuses on improving the management of territories through the application of technology, in order to improve and increase the services available to people in an efficient and sustainable way.

We identify the IoT as an enabling technology to develop infrastructures and the design methodologies necessary for the design of services capable of creating an impact in the areas of personal safety, mobility and the efficient management of natural resources (water, energy, agriculture and livestock).

We have experience in:

• Creation of IoT monitoring networks distributed throughout the territory (road traffic, environmental conditions, ocean conditions, livestock and agricultural monitoring, etc.) and infrastructures (buildings, tunnels, mines, etc.)
• IoT and machine learning infrastructure design and deployment (underground water prediction, electric car management, etc.)
• Redesign and development of services (traffic, energy, etc.)
• Creation and management of living labs
• User awareness for the rational use of resources.

Check our latest projects and industry results.

With special emphasis on health, education and welfare of people (and also animals), we have large experience in combining IoT with design methodologies in the development of disruptive IoT products (wearables and monitoring systems), cloud-based services and high value-added mobile applications.

We enjoy focusing our research to assistive technologies -to improve the quality of life and autonomy of the elderly and people with disabilities- and e-health. We have experience in:

• design of monitoring wearables and their embedded intelligence
• integration of health devices in smart environments for monitoring vital signs and administration of medications
• design and creation of learning environments that combine e-learning technologies, mobile computing and context sensitivity to improve the user experience and facilitate the acquisition and understanding of information
• alternative and augmentative communication strategies and tools to help people communicate regardless of their abilities
• spatial orientation of people
• support for orientation and navigation in time (recognition of the current time of day, understanding tasks and appointments ahead) of children with autism, elderly with mild dementia, etc
• control of the user’s environment (household appliances, home automation, air conditioning, toys, etc.) in order to support autonomy
• support for caregivers (family members and formal caregivers) by discreetly monitoring users and their environment so that they are informed about risk and emergency situations such as falls, inactivity, etc
• assessment of quality of life based on the analysis of the monitoring of people and their environment to detect unusual activities, changes in behavior, loss of abilities, etc
• rehabilitation and physical and cognitive prevention of people through accessible leisure strategies
• social communities of telecare and tele-rehabilitation of patients with chronic diseases
• controlled environments of multisensory stimulation (Snoezelen) for the rehabilitation of people with cognitive disabilities and other disorders such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), etc.

Check our latest projects and industry results.