Master’s in Assistive Robotics and Home Automation Engineering for Dependent Care
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in assistive robotics and home automation for dependency. 12 modules covering dependency and technology, assistive and service robotics, perception and navigation, human-robot interaction, smart homes, telecare, home adaptation, AI for care, regulation and safety, user evaluation and service models, with an assigned technical tutor.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the needs of people in situations of dependency.
Design safe assistive robotics solutions.
Implement perception and navigation in service robots.
Integrate home automation and telecare in the home.
Apply AI to monitoring and care.
Evaluate solutions with users and caregivers.
Define sustainable service models.
Who it's for
- Assistive robotics engineers developing robots for personal care and support.
- Home automation integrators adapting homes for older and dependent people.
- Telecare specialists moving towards advanced, sensor-based services.
- Human-robot interaction designers working on social and companion robots.
- Managers of technology-based social and healthcare services.
- Researchers in active ageing and independent living.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter social services and home care.
What you'll work with
- Law 39/2006 (Spanish law on personal autonomy and care for dependent persons)
- ISO 13482 (safety requirements for personal care robots)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (Machinery Regulation)
- ETSI EN 303 645 (cybersecurity for consumer IoT)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR, data protection)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (EU Artificial Intelligence Act)
- ISO 9999 (assistive products classification)
- ROS 2
- Home Assistant
- Gazebo
- Python
- Node-RED
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Demographic ageing and dependency1.2Law 39/2006 and the care system1.3Degrees of dependency and the BVD assessment scale1.4Formal and informal care1.5Technology for independent living1.6The Ambient Assisted Living paradigm1.7Person-centred care models1.8Social cost of dependency1.9Technology acceptance among older people1.10Case study: needs profile of a dependent user
2.1Personal assistance robots2.2Social robots for cognitive stimulation2.3Companion robots and robotic pets2.4Feeding assistance robots2.5Bed-to-chair transfer robots2.6Telepresence robots for families2.7Mobile manipulators in the home2.8Safe physical design of robots2.9Current limitations of assistive robotics2.10Laboratory: assistance task with a mobile manipulator
3.1Depth sensors and lidar in robots3.2Computer vision for home environments3.3SLAM and mapping of the home3.4Navigation among furniture and people3.5Recognition of everyday objects3.6Person identification and tracking3.7Human activity detection3.8ROS 2 and the Nav2 navigation stack3.9Testing in real homes3.10Practical: robot navigation in a simulated home
4.1Verbal communication and speech recognition4.2Robot gestures, gaze and expressions4.3Trust in and dependence on the robot4.4Proxemics and interaction distance4.5Interaction with people with dementia4.6Personalisation according to user preferences4.7Methods for evaluating interaction4.8Cultural differences in acceptance4.9Ethical design of interaction4.10Workshop: dialogue design for a social robot
5.1KNX, Zigbee and Matter protocols5.2Presence, opening and consumption sensors5.3Environmental control by voice and push buttons5.4Adaptive night-time lighting5.5Smart locks and access5.6Integration with voice assistants5.7The Home Assistant open platform5.8Interoperability between manufacturers5.9Reliability and maintenance of installations5.10Laboratory: home automation scenario with Home Assistant
6.1Fourth-generation advanced telecare6.2Automatic fall detection at home6.3Daily activity patterns6.4Detection of anomalies in routines6.5Non-intrusive sensors and radar6.6Wearables for older people6.7Alerts to caregivers and family members6.8Response centres and protocols6.9Privacy in home monitoring6.10Practical: routine anomaly detection model
7.1Functional assessment of the home7.2Architectural adaptations of entrances7.3Assistive products for the home7.4Accessible bathroom and kitchen7.5Ceiling hoists and rail systems7.6Adjustable beds and pressure-relief mattresses7.7Technical aids for mobility7.8Public grants for adaptations7.9Accessibility regulations for housing7.10Case study: home adaptation project
8.1Conversational assistants for older people8.2Recognition of activities of daily living8.3Prediction of functional decline8.4Personalised activity recommendations8.5AI bias in the older population8.6Explainability for professional caregivers8.7AI embedded in social robots8.8Evaluation of assistive AI systems8.9Obligations under the European AI Act8.10Laboratory: classifier of household activities
9.1ISO 13482 safety requirements9.2Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery9.3The RED Directive and robot connectivity9.4IoT cybersecurity according to EN 303 6459.5Data protection under the GDPR9.6The boundary with medical devices9.7Civil liability for defective products9.8Ethical principles in care robotics9.9Certification and CE marking of the system9.10Workshop: risk analysis of a companion robot
10.1Participatory design with older people and caregivers10.2Living labs and test environments10.3Qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods10.4Usability with older people10.5UTAUT technology acceptance models10.6Impact on caregiver burden10.7Measuring quality of life10.8Economic evaluation of solutions10.9Pilot study design10.10Practical: living lab evaluation protocol
11.1Social services and technology11.2Integration of social and health care11.3Business models for assistive technology11.4Public funding and co-payment11.5Public procurement of innovation11.6Scaling pilots up to services11.7Training of care professionals11.8Economic sustainability of the service11.9Leading international experiences11.10Case study: advanced telecare service model
12.1User and care context12.2Functional requirements of the system12.3System architecture design12.4Integration of robot and home automation12.5Demonstrable working prototype12.6Evaluation with users and caregivers12.7Regulatory and ethical analysis12.8Proposed service model12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ROS 2, Home Assistant, Gazebo, Python and Node-RED, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: robot testing in simulated home environments, evaluations with older people in living labs and integration of home automation systems. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Law 39/2006 on the promotion of personal autonomy and care for dependent persons, ISO 13482, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery, ETSI EN 303 645, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 on artificial intelligence, ISO 9999.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ROS 2, Home Assistant, Gazebo, Python and Node-RED, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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