Relying on consumer-grade edge devices, such as mobile phones, as the control system for home health monitoring robots presents several challenges and limitations. One significant concern is performance variability. Mobile phones vary widely in processing power, memory, and battery life, which can lead to inconsistent performance across different devices. This variability may affect the robot's ability to perform complex health monitoring tasks reliably.
Another challenge is connectivity issues. Home environments may have varying Wi-Fi signal strengths or interference from other devices, which can disrupt communication between the robot and the mobile phone. Such disruptions could lead to delays in data transmission, potentially compromising the timeliness of health alerts or monitoring.
Additionally, security and privacy are critical concerns when using consumer-grade devices for health monitoring. Mobile phones are often targets for cyberattacks, and sensitive health data transmitted over networks could be vulnerable to breaches. Ensuring robust security measures, such as encryption and secure authentication, is essential to protect user data.
Lastly, the battery dependency of mobile phones poses a limitation. If the mobile device runs out of battery or experiences hardware malfunctions, the entire health monitoring system could fail. Therefore, designing a reliable power management system and considering backup power solutions are crucial to mitigate this risk.