Design of autonomous controlled integrated system for increasing comfort in newborns: Interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering and nursing studies

Abstract

Background: The adaptations of “term” and “preterm” newborns to the world are quite different, but one of the important problems for both groups during these periods is to provide temperature control of the newborn, to reduce its exposure to light, and to provide ambient sound control. One of the important criteria in the postpartum adaptation of newborn babies is the attempts to increase environmental comfort. In providing comfort; ambient factors such as noise, light, heat, are tried to be controlled. Aim and Objectives: It is aimed to increase comfort by optimizing the environmental conditions of the baby in the Autonomous Controlled Integrated System for Increasing Comfort in Newborn Babies, which will be designed within the scope of this study. Materials and Method: To summarize the integrated system, the autonomously controlled integrated system to be designed and produced within the scope of the project generally consists of three main modules. These modules can be summarized as analyzing the environmental conditions, making decisions based on artificial intelligence depending on the analyzed environmental conditions, and reporting the operations performed to the users using different communication channels. In this structure, first of all; The integrated system designed will measure the cradle environment and baby body temperature in real-time to increase baby comfort. The system will evaluate the measurement values obtained in the second module on the artificial intelligence map and generate commands for the environment to reach optimum conditions. To summarize this module, noise measurement in the integrated system will be measured in decibels with sound level measurement devices. In cases where babies are exposed to excessive noise, system stimulation will be activated and the ambient noise will be reduced, thus protecting the baby from the harmful effects of excessive noise. The light intensity of the lighting environment where the baby's environment is located will be kept in the range of a minimum of 10 lux and a maximum of 600 lux mentioned in the literature. By performing system simulation below or above this range, the user will be informed and the environment will be brought to optimum conditions. In addition to monitoring the environment, the recorded sound data will also make predictions based on artificial intelligence about the baby's needs or problems, according to the baby's crying pattern. In the third module, the system will ensure that the real-time transaction process is reported to the user and the family health center. Results: As a result, with the integrated system that will be designed and produced, it will be possible to intervene in real-time based on artificial intelligence technology to the changes in the environment where the baby is located, and this situation will be reported with real-time data. Conclusion: Thus, baby comfort will be increased, family anxiety level will be reduced, and changes in the baby's environment will be reported in real-time.