The KogniHome project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the grant number 16 SV 7065 and carried out from 2014 to 2018, aimed to create a new generation of home‑assistant technologies that combine high user‑centricity with robust security and data protection. The core of the effort was the development of the KogniLink platform, a modular microcontroller‑based hardware and software stack that supports plug‑and‑play integration of diverse smart‑home devices. KogniLink’s architecture includes a base board and optional add‑on modules, allowing the addition of sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces without redesigning the core system. The software layer implements a lightweight operating system, device drivers, and a secure communication protocol that can be extended with new plug‑and‑play protocols. Performance tests conducted with the University of Paderborn demonstrated that KogniLink can evaluate several encryption algorithms on a microcontroller platform with minimal latency, making it suitable for real‑time secure data exchange in home environments.
A key technical milestone was the design and integration of a security token that authenticates devices and users within the KogniLink ecosystem. The token, developed jointly with achelos GmbH, HJP Consulting, and the University of Paderborn, uses asymmetric cryptography to provide strong authentication while keeping the token’s footprint small enough for embedded deployment. The token’s implementation was validated in a real‑world scenario where it authenticated a smart door lock and a lighting control system, ensuring that only authorized devices could issue commands. In parallel, the project explored the use of the universAAL middleware to enable interoperability between KogniLink devices and other ambient assisted living (AAL) solutions, thereby extending the platform’s reach to healthcare and elder‑care applications.
Three demonstrator projects showcased the practical impact of the platform. The digital kitchen demonstrator used KogniLink to guide users through cooking steps, integrating recipe databases and sensor feedback to adjust cooking times and temperatures automatically. The intelligent entrance demonstrator, developed with DMW Schwarze, implemented a smart door system that learns user habits and provides context‑aware notifications when a user is about to leave or return home. The supportive personal coach demonstrator, in collaboration with Hanning & Kahl, combined activity tracking sensors with motivational feedback to encourage physical exercise, delivering personalized coaching messages through the KogniLink network. These demonstrators highlighted the system’s ability to adapt to individual preferences, provide seamless user interaction, and maintain data privacy.
The project’s collaboration network was extensive. In addition to the core partners mentioned above, CITEC contributed by developing a real‑time operating system stack for microcontrollers and exploring new plug‑and‑play protocols. The consortium also engaged with several external research groups, such as the EU FP7 project KSERA and the Austrian PhysicAAL program, to benchmark the humanoid robot Nao’s potential for social‑assistive robotics. The integration of the security token and the plug‑and‑play protocol was tested in a series of field trials involving end‑users from diverse demographic groups, ensuring that the solutions were not only technically sound but also user‑friendly.
Overall, KogniHome delivered a comprehensive, secure, and extensible platform for home‑assistant technologies, validated through multiple real‑world demonstrators and supported by a robust collaboration framework. The project’s outcomes provide a solid foundation for future developments in ambient assisted living, smart‑home automation, and personalized health monitoring, while demonstrating that high levels of user‑centric design can coexist with stringent security and privacy requirements.