A Digital Assistant to Human Resilience in the Form of a Personal "Bionic Suit"

PetrSU scientists are conducting research into the fundamental scientific problem of developing new methods for bionics in sensor technology and ambient intelligence algorithms.

The project is being carried out by an interdisciplinary team, which includes leading scientists from PetrSU: Alexander Yuryevich Meigal and Lyudmila Ivanovna Gerasimova-Meigal, who hold doctorates in medical sciences, as well as Dmitry Korzun and Andrey Aleksandrovich Velichko, who hold advanced degrees in physical and mathematical sciences.

The project involves 6 researchers under the age of 39, including 5 full-time graduate students.

The project is designed to last for 3 years.

The project "Bionic Methods of Sensorics and Ambient Intelligence for Monitoring Human Resilience in Northern Territories" (2022-2024) aims to address the scientific challenge of developing new bionic sensor methods and ambient intelligence algorithms. These methods will facilitate the creation of Internet-based systems for monitoring human resilience in northern territories.

These monitoring systems are designed to create various digital assistants that continuously accompany individuals and assist them in their daily activities, both at home and in industrial settings. Accompaniment is made possible through the implementation of the "Intellectual Human Sensorics" approach developed in the project, as well as the concept of a "bionic suit" which serves as an additional layer of digital tools in a person's digital environment.

The concept of human resilience defines the continuous monitoring of various aspects of a person's functioning. This includes the examination of their autonomous processes (how the body functions), cognitive abilities (how they perceive and understand information), and motor skills (how they move in physical space). Resilience is closely linked to a person's mental well-being.

The monitoring of human resilience involves assessing how individuals adapt to stress, dysfunction, illness, challenging living conditions, and other factors that can negatively impact their mental health. This is seen as a practical issue. It is important to note that the monitoring results are intended for the individual's use and not for the development of an external tracking system.

Sensory data about the monitored subject may include health parameters, parameters of the physical environment, and parameters of autonomic, cognitive, and motor functions performed by the person. Sensory and biomedical technologies for monitoring such parameters are currently experiencing rapid growth, primarily in everyday life settings rather than professional medical laboratory settings.

The conducting scientific research have great potential for further use in healthcare, industries, and improving the quality of life in the Republic of Karelia, with the possibility of extending to other regions. The main hypothesis is that a higher level of cognitive resilience in a person enables them to contribute more effectively to the development of their region. The studied digital assistants are focused on providing various types of support for human resilience:

• Permanent support in maintaining good mental health amidst stress and other negative external factors, rather than just periodically (e.g. through infrequent visits to a specialist).

• Adjustment to various work and living conditions, including individuals from southern regions, traditional office settings, remote work setups, small-scale industries, outdoor settings, and challenging terrains.
• Building resilience against fatigue by regularly tracking important indicators of human motor, cognitive, and autonomic functions.
• Encouraging health preservation by providing individuals with an understanding of the biological processes, highlighting accomplishments, and addressing negative patterns that may occur.

The conditions of the northern territories result in a greater decline in mental health resilience to stress and other negative factors, compared to the more comfortable living and working conditions in southern regions.

The project highlights the following conditions in the northern territories that have a significant impact on the functioning of Internet-based systems for monitoring human resilience and the resulting effects of such systems usage.

• The sensors of the Internet monitoring system should be able to function in severe environmental conditions (climate, snow, mud, movement, etc.).
• Internet monitoring systems proposed for implementation should be oriented to the existing production in the Republic of Karelia in order to contribute to the digital transformation of production processes. Specifically, digital services should be developed as assistants for employees, allowing them to work outdoors or in the workshop.
• Potential target group is elderly individuals, many of whom experience loneliness due to low population density and remoteness from assistance centers or larger settlements. In particular, digital services should serve as assistants for elderly individuals helping them in everyday life and household tasks.
• Another potential target group consists of individuals from southern territories who come to the Republic of Karelia. For example, students studying at PetrSU and other educational institutions. It is essential to monitor and strengthen their resilience, helping them adapt to their new living conditions.
• The region's territory is appealing for creating remote job opportunities for employees of various organizations in the Russian Federation. Potential group of people for monitoring human resilience includes operators, dispatchers, IT specialists, and experts.

“We would like to provide individuals with digital assistants at the household level that enable them to effectively monitor their current status and leverage this information for their advantage,

– said Dmitry Korzun.