£34 million investment to develop care robots to transform care sector and relieve pressure off healthcare professionals - AT Today - Assistive Technology

Part of the UK Government's aim to give people five years of longer, healthier life, it has announced a £34 million investment to develop robots capable of providing support for Britons and making caring responsibilities easier. With one in seven people in the UK now expected to be over 75 years old by 2040, care robots could help provide the UK's dedicated adult social care sector with more assistance for those who need it most. The Government has launched the UK's biggest research programme entirely dedicated to making autonomous systems safe and trustworthy for public use with investment that could help develop robots to one day fulfil tasks such as helping an elderly person up after a fall and raising the alarm, delivering food to an older person at mealtimes, and ensuring they take crucial medication at the correct time. This cutting-edge programme will undertake research into their design, for example ensuring robots are better protected against cyber-attacks and that they demonstrate principles like respect, fairness and equality, enabling them to eventually be used in environments like care homes and hospitals. In the healthcare sector, this dedicated programme could enable care robots work alongside professionals to assist and complement their work, and help relieve pressures.