REXASI-PRO, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative, focuses on developing a reliable and explainable swarm intelligence system to assist people with reduced mobility, specifically through smart wheelchair technology. The final evaluation of this project was carried out at CNR Villa in Genoa from June 9th to June 20th, 2025. During this period, several tests were conducted to assess the system’s functionality and overall user experience.
The evaluation covered multiple critical test scenarios. The first, the Collision Test, was designed to verify whether the wheelchair could avoid collisions with individuals moving unpredictably. This test was conducted in both automatic and manual driving modes, with partners from DFKI, AITEK, and SPXL involved. It was completed within a two-hour time slot.
Another key test was the Impact Detection Test, which focused on determining if the system could detect individuals around corners or other potential collision points. This was tested with a similar group of partners, including DFKI, AITEK, and SPXL, and was also conducted within a two-hour window.
The Drone Operations Test evaluated how well the orchestrator could manage drone flights for environmental mapping, ensuring that obstacles were detected properly. This test took place at HSOL premises and was scheduled for after 16:00 when the building was empty to avoid interference with other activities.
One of the most comprehensive tests was the Crowded Environments Test, which aimed to assess the wheelchair’s behavior in spaces with varying crowd densities. This test was conducted by involving users with different experiences with wheelchairs, gathering their feedback through questionnaires. This process occurred over several days, from June 16th to June 20th, with a focus on analyzing the wheelchair’s performance and how it interacted with the crowd.
The Crowd Detection Test was another crucial evaluation, which tested the system’s ability to distinguish between crowded and uncrowded areas. This test combined data from AITEK cameras and drones and involved multiple project partners, including AITEK, SPXL, and HSOL. It took place over two hours.
Finally, the Re-Route Test focused on evaluating whether the orchestrator could successfully re-route the wheelchair to avoid congested paths. This test was performed with the help of DFKI, AITEK, and SPXL partners, also within a two-hour timeframe.
The schedule for the demo days was organized to minimize the time spent by partners in Genoa while ensuring comprehensive testing. Initial setup and integration of wheelchairs, cameras, and drones occurred on June 9th and 10th. On June 12th, the collision and impact detection tests were conducted. Crowd detection and re-route tests followed on June 13th, while drone operations took place on June 14th, after the building was emptied. The crowded environments tests with feedback collection ran from June 16th to June 19th, and the final wrap-up and packing of the wheelchair systems took place on June 20th.
The demo days successfully showcased the REXASI-PRO system, validating its functionality and performance in real-world scenarios. The tests provided valuable insights into the system’s ability to support people with reduced mobility, confirming its effectiveness in dynamic, crowded environments.
Following this important step, the final event of REXASI-PRO took place in Rome on September 24th and 25th. The General Assembly, attended by all partners, was a valuable step in preparation for the Final Review of the project. The analysis of the objectives and results achieved over the three-year period was developed through the examination of several elements. These included the development of a reliable and explainable artificial intelligence framework, the design of trustable solutions for social robotic navigation, and the contribution of Decision Science and topology-based methods for the development of Greener AI. Finally, it was interesting to examine the choices made in the field of communication in order to reach a wide audience, including non-specialists in the sector. This objective was also pursued through the constant and participatory updating of this news section.