The AsTeRICS Framework
The Assistive Technology Rapid Integration & Construction Set (AsTeRICS) is an Open Source framework for efficient development of end-user ready assistive solutions. Via a graphical editor, sensor- and actuator modules can be combined to define a desired assistive functionality, involving for example eye- or facetracking, bioelectric signal processing or environmental control systems. Additionally, button interfaces (e.g. FABI) or a mouthmouse (e.g. FLipMouse) can be used as input modality. Thus, solutions can be easily configured to end-user needs, even directly at the user site.
The AsTeRICS system has been developed together with 8 partner institutions in the course of a 3-years R&D-project which was partly funded by the European commission (see: AsTeRICS Project Homepage). The Department of Embedded Systems of the UAS Technikum Wien was responsible for the Technical Management of the project, and our partners at KI-I managed the project coordination.
The AsTeRICS system consists of a graphical editor (the ACS) for model design and a runtime system (which executes the models). Furthermore, user- and developer guides are part of the AsTeRICS system, as well as a set of demo models for possible applications and a creation wizard for new functional blocks (plugins).
Demos
Try out the collection of demos on our demo page.
The following video shows a man with a wheelchair controlling a toy helicopter through the joystick of his wheelchair and by contraction of the shoulder muscles. The model for this application was created with AsTeRICS.
Downloads
The current version of the AsTeRICS system can be downloaded here: AsTeRICS release download.