EMERGENCE: Tackling Frailty - Facilitating the Emergence of Healthcare Robots from Labs into Service
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Computer Science
Abstract
The EMERGENCE network aims to create a sustainable eco-system of researchers, businesses, end-users, health and social care commissioners and practitioners, policy makers and regulatory bodies in order to build knowledge and capability needed to enable healthcare robots to support people living with frailty in the community.
By adopting a person-centred approach to developing healthcare robotics technology we seek to improve the quality of life and independence of older people at risk of, and living with frailty, whilst helping to contain spiralling care costs. Individuals with frailty have different needs but, commonly, assistance is needed in activities related to mobility, self-care and domestic life, social activities and relationships. Healthcare can be enhanced by supporting people to better self-manage the conditions resulting from frailty, and improving information and data flow between individuals and healthcare practitioners, enabling more timely interventions.
Providing cost-effective and high-quality support for an aging population is a high priority issue for the government. The lack of adequate social care provisions in the community and funding cuts have added to the pressures on an already overstretched healthcare system. The gaps in ability to deliver the requisite quality of care, in the face of a shrinking care workforce, have been particularly exposed during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Healthcare robots are increasingly recognised as solutions in helping people improve independent living, by having the ability to offer physical assistance as well as supporting complex self-management and healthcare tasks when integrated with patient data. The EMERGENCE network will foster and facilitate innovative research and development of healthcare robotic solutions so that they can be realised as pragmatic and sustainable solutions providing personalised, affordable and inclusive health and social care in the community.
We will work with our clinical partners and user groups to translate the current health and social care challenges in assessing, reducing and managing frailty into a set of clear and actionable requirements that will inspire novel research and enable engineers to develop appropriate healthcare robotics solutions.
We will also establish best practice guidelines for informing the design and development of healthcare robotics solutions, addressing assessment, reduction and self-management of frailty and end-user interactions for people with age-related sensory, physical and cognitive impairments. This will help the UK develop cross-cutting research capabilities in ethical design, evaluation and production of healthcare robots.
To enable the design and evaluation of healthcare robotic solutions we will utilize the consortium's living lab test beds. These include the Assisted Living Studio in the Bristol Robotics Lab covering the South West, the National Robotarium in Edinburgh together with the Health Innovation South East Scotland's Midlothian test bed, the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and HomeLab in Sheffield, and the Robot House at the University of Hertfordshire covering the South East. Up to 10 funded feasibility studies will drive co-designed, high quality research that will lead to technologies capable of transforming community health and care.
The network will also establish safety and regulatory requirements to ensure that healthcare robotic solutions can be easily deployed and integrated as part of community-based frailty care packages.
In addition, we will identify gaps in the skills set of carers and therapists that might prevent them from using robotic solutions effectively and inform the development of training content to address these gaps. This will foster the regulatory, political and commercial environments and the workforce skills needed to make the UK a global leader in the use of robotics to support the government's ageing society grand challenge.
By adopting a person-centred approach to developing healthcare robotics technology we seek to improve the quality of life and independence of older people at risk of, and living with frailty, whilst helping to contain spiralling care costs. Individuals with frailty have different needs but, commonly, assistance is needed in activities related to mobility, self-care and domestic life, social activities and relationships. Healthcare can be enhanced by supporting people to better self-manage the conditions resulting from frailty, and improving information and data flow between individuals and healthcare practitioners, enabling more timely interventions.
Providing cost-effective and high-quality support for an aging population is a high priority issue for the government. The lack of adequate social care provisions in the community and funding cuts have added to the pressures on an already overstretched healthcare system. The gaps in ability to deliver the requisite quality of care, in the face of a shrinking care workforce, have been particularly exposed during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Healthcare robots are increasingly recognised as solutions in helping people improve independent living, by having the ability to offer physical assistance as well as supporting complex self-management and healthcare tasks when integrated with patient data. The EMERGENCE network will foster and facilitate innovative research and development of healthcare robotic solutions so that they can be realised as pragmatic and sustainable solutions providing personalised, affordable and inclusive health and social care in the community.
We will work with our clinical partners and user groups to translate the current health and social care challenges in assessing, reducing and managing frailty into a set of clear and actionable requirements that will inspire novel research and enable engineers to develop appropriate healthcare robotics solutions.
We will also establish best practice guidelines for informing the design and development of healthcare robotics solutions, addressing assessment, reduction and self-management of frailty and end-user interactions for people with age-related sensory, physical and cognitive impairments. This will help the UK develop cross-cutting research capabilities in ethical design, evaluation and production of healthcare robots.
To enable the design and evaluation of healthcare robotic solutions we will utilize the consortium's living lab test beds. These include the Assisted Living Studio in the Bristol Robotics Lab covering the South West, the National Robotarium in Edinburgh together with the Health Innovation South East Scotland's Midlothian test bed, the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and HomeLab in Sheffield, and the Robot House at the University of Hertfordshire covering the South East. Up to 10 funded feasibility studies will drive co-designed, high quality research that will lead to technologies capable of transforming community health and care.
The network will also establish safety and regulatory requirements to ensure that healthcare robotic solutions can be easily deployed and integrated as part of community-based frailty care packages.
In addition, we will identify gaps in the skills set of carers and therapists that might prevent them from using robotic solutions effectively and inform the development of training content to address these gaps. This will foster the regulatory, political and commercial environments and the workforce skills needed to make the UK a global leader in the use of robotics to support the government's ageing society grand challenge.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- Bristol Health Partners (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- North Bristol NHS Trust (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Johnnie Johnson Housing (Collaboration)
- University of Aberdeen (Collaboration)
- University of Hertfordshire (Collaboration)
- NHS LOTHIAN (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- Skills for Care (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Innovation Centre for Sensor and Imaging Systems CENSIS (Collaboration)
- West of England Academic Health Science Network (Collaboration)
- University of Plymouth (Collaboration)
- Heriot-Watt University (Collaboration)
- NHS TAYSIDE (Collaboration)
- Government of Scotland (Collaboration)
- Toyota Motor Corporation (Collaboration)
- Scottish Social Services Council (Collaboration)
- National Rehabilitation Center (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- University of the West of England (Collaboration)
- Devices for Dignity (Collaboration)
- IBM (Collaboration)
- Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (SHIL) (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Collaboration)
- SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Blackwood (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (Collaboration)
- Robert Gordon University (Collaboration)
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Edinburgh Napier University (Collaboration)
- Sanctuary Housing Association (Collaboration)
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- NHS Lothian (Project Partner)
- Cyberselves Universal Limited (Project Partner)
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Project Partner)
- Blackwood Homes and Care (Project Partner)
- Consequential Robotics (to be replaced) (Project Partner)
- Digital Health and Care Institute (Project Partner)
- Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (Project Partner)
- PAL Robotics (Project Partner)
- Johnnie Johnson Housing and Astraline (Project Partner)
- University of British Columbia (Project Partner)
- CENSIS (Project Partner)
- InnoScot Health (Project Partner)
Publications
Marchang J
(2022)
Assistive Multimodal Robotic System (AMRSys): Security and Privacy Issues, Challenges, and Possible Solutions
in Applied Sciences
Solène Guenat
(2022)
Meeting sustainable development goals via robotics and autonomous systems
Solène Guenat
(2022)
Meeting sustainable development goals via robotics and autonomous systems
Guenat S
(2022)
Meeting sustainable development goals via robotics and autonomous systems.
in Nature communications
Fiorini L
(2022)
The VISTA datasets, a combination of inertial sensors and depth cameras data for activity recognition.
in Scientific data
Aitsam M
(2022)
Neuromorphic Computing for Interactive Robotics: A Systematic Review
in IEEE Access
C. Ryan
(2024)
Paving the way forward
Di Nuovo A
(2024)
Letter to the Editor: "How Can Biomedical Engineers Help Empower Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities? The Potential Benefits and Challenges of AI Technologies to Support Inclusivity and Transform Lives".
in IEEE journal of translational engineering in health and medicine
Chrysikou E
(2024)
I am frail and my robot is stuck on the corridor: cohabitation of people with frailty and robots
in European Journal of Public Health
| Title | EMERGENCE Conceptual Artwork |
| Description | Following the WP1 Workshop in Sheffield, the EMERGENCE network employed the graphic facilitation services of Sam Church Illustration to produce conceptual artwork that encapsulated the initial thoughts and ideas that participants had around the opportunities for the use of assistive robotics to address the challenges faced by those living with frailty. The artwork produced depicted 5 concepts that had been suggested by participants and included a rough sketch to give a suggestion of potential size and shape along with annotations with suggested potential functionality. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The resulting artwork was used within the WP1 "Define" workshops as a conversation starter to give participants the opportunity to discuss their feelings about each concept with a view to discussing more generally the challenges that exist to the acceptability and deployment of assistive robotic solutions into people's daily lives. |
| Title | EMERGENCE Discover Workshop Illustrations |
| Description | The EMERGENCE network employed the graphic facilitation services of Sam Church Illustration during each of the discovery workshops that took place as part of the WP1 activities. Sam attended each workshop in person, listening in on discussions and taking notes to facilitate the production of artwork which translated the comments and ideas of the workshop participants into drawings with a distinctive style which encapsulate key points of conversation whilst conveying a sense of the emotions and feelings behind the words, something which is often lost with traditional transcriptions. Following each workshop, Sam produced a set of summary drawings highlighting the top themes emerging from the discussions around the challenges faced by older people living with frailty using phrases taken directly from participants' dialogues with accompanying imagery. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The resulting artwork was used in presentations at subsequent events to underpin the analysis of the outcomes from WP1 activities and to increase awareness around the challenges to be addressed via the Robotics for Frailty Challenge. The artwork was also made available to participants of the co-creation methodology workshops where it sparked conversations and ideas that led to new collaborations, initial proposals and full proposals being submitted to the network for consideration for funding. |
| Description | The Emergence mission is to create and catalyse a robotics for healthcare community, connecting together researchers, health and social care professionals, service users, regulators and policy makers, to bring about a change in how assistive robots are conceptualised, designed and developed. While the potential of assistive robots is recognised, there are few real-world solutions for people living with frailty. We have found a significant gap between what is developed and tested in research labs, and the types of solutions that would be cost-effective, sustainable and accepted by users in real-world contexts. As part of the Emergence project we have run a series of co-design workshops with people with lived experience of frailty, carers and healthcare professionals. We found that using a persona-based approach to facilitate conversations helped to surface deep emotional, social and psychological issues. Foundational engineering and scientific research that underpins the development of healthcare technologies will not result in impact unless it addresses pragmatic issues relating to how technology will fit into people's lives. Through a range of Emergence network activities we have been working with the research community to improve understanding of how assistive robotics solutions targeted at people with lived experience of frailty also need to consider the larger context of psychosocial and economic challenges. Feelings of loneliness, despair and anxiety, and financial pressures compound the physical and cognitive manifestations of frailty, and any assistive solution needs to be developed in the context of this complex inter- play of psycho-social and environmental factors. We have organised a series of co-design methodology workshops, seminars, and robotics and care "mash-up" events in our consortium test beds, providing resources and direct access to a diverse range of experts to encourage a paradigm shift in how the research community approaches the design of AI and robotics technology based solutions, and to propose projects that fundamentally rethink how robots will operate in challenging environments and interact with people who might have a range of physical, cognitive and sensory impairments. The Emergence network has funded a diverse range of pilot projects that will be instrumental in accelerating the design of assistive robots that can make the leap from the laboratory to the home, by looking at architectural requirements, modularity, middleware, regulations, as well as future training needs of health and social care professionals. |
| Exploitation Route | The research projects that we have funded will be well-placed to apply for further funding. We ensured that the teams that we have funded were inter-disciplinary and needed to work alongside experts and people with lived experience of frailty. As a result this is drawing in a growing circle of health and social care professionals who are now better connected regionally to continue their collabations. The projects we have funded will be publishing their findings as part of the deliverables, and their outputs will become part of the Emergence Body of Knowledge made available on our network website. This will lead to the outcomes being accessible not just nationally, but also internationally. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Healthcare |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/robotics-for-frailty-challenge |
| Description | Our project has been creating and facilitating co-designed research opportunities to accelerate the realisation of healthcare robots as pragmatic and sustainable solutions for personalised, affordable and inclusive assessment, self-management and reduction of frailty. Building on the aim of bringing healthcare robots out of the labs and into service, our activities have engaged the robotics research community in understanding best practice in co-production approaches that are person-centric and clinically informed, By using creative means, such as graphically illustrated empathy cards, we have captured and communicated the voices of people with lived experience of frailty to generate more insightful understanding of the psychological and social impact of frailty. The resources that we have generated are helping other researchers navigate regulatory and ethical requirements, ensuring clinical and market viability, as well as user acceptance. We have supported the co-production of projects that are focussed on wider issues that can become a barrier to successful deployment and adoption, such as the spaces that robots will need to operate in, and sustainable solutions. We have also organised continuing professional development workshops for health and social care professionals so that they can interact with emerging robotics technologies and feel confident to deliver a successful technology-enabled future. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Advisory Board Member for the RAi Responsible and Adaptive Robots |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | British Standards BS ISO 25552 - Smart Multigenerational Neighbourhoods |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Consultation Report with people living with disability and chronic diseases of the Working Group on Healthcare delivered to the National Accessibility Authority of Greece |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | EMERGENCE 'I need help but my robot can't get down the stairs' dissemination event |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Expert invited participant on UK Government (FCDO) delegation to Meghalaya State government, India |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | IEEE Robotics and Automation Society TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FOR ROBOT ETHICS |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.ieee-ras.org/robot-ethics/contact |
| Description | Impact on architectural practice |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Invited to address Heads of Research and innovation for Welsh universities |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | MSc Healthcare Facilities Lecture to students |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Update of the BSI 8611-2023 - Robots and robotic devices - Ethical design and application of robots and robotic systems |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2022-00279#/section |
| Description | Autism, Ageing, and Health and Social Care Technologies: Developing a shared understanding, ensuring informed consent, and embedding into practice |
| Amount | £249,433 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | Blackwood Innovate UK Robotics - Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) |
| Amount | £154,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 13068 |
| Organisation | Research Councils UK (RCUK) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Co-creating the future: the use of multifunctional robots in occupational therapy and dementia |
| Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 20309 |
| Organisation | Royal College of Occupational Therapists |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Exploring the Use of Assistive Robots, Smart Sensing and Digital Twin Models for Monitoring and Support of A-T in Non-Clinical Environments |
| Amount | £19,997 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Action for A-T |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2025 |
| End | 11/2025 |
| Description | Facilitating health and wellbeing by developing systems for early recognition of urinary tract infections - Feather |
| Amount | £1,100,918 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W031493/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | I'M-ACTIVE : Intelligent Multimodal Assessment and Coaching Through Identification of Vulnerabilities in older pEople |
| Amount | £400,481 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W031809/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 06/2024 |
| Description | Improving quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners: the development, intervention and evaluation of a dementia specific narrative-based intervention: LEND (lived experiences narratives in dementia) |
| Amount | £2,649,737 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR206255 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2024 |
| End | 05/2029 |
| Description | RTO Grant Support Scheme |
| Amount | £17,964 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RTC-17431 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| End | 11/2023 |
| Title | A Framework for Cohabitation with Robots and Smart Technology within the Built Environment |
| Description | The research team developed a draft framework for designing co-habitable, frailty-friendly living environments. It incorporates three levels that triangulates the resident's needs, the built environment, and robots/technology. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The team organised in November 2024 a dissemination event where experts from academia, architecture, allied healthcare providers etc. discussed and engaged in a co-creative process which supported the development of the three-tier framework and also enriched the participants' knowledge on the subject, which they have transferred to their profession. |
| Title | Development of Empathy Cards |
| Description | The EMERGENCE network have developed a deck of empathy cards titled "Let's talk about people-centered robotics" as a research tool to facilitate discussions and reflections about the design of future robotics and intelligent assistive technologies. The illustrations on these cards are based on our EPSRC EMERGENCE Network+ workshops where stakeholders joined focus groups to share information about experiences of frailty and assistive robotics technologies in health and social care. The illustrations capture the essence of the conversations among the workshop participants. The cards are intended both as an engaging record of discussions and to enable people to reflect on issues and serve as a tool to help technologists, researchers, other stakeholders and the general public to engage with a diverse range of views in their consideration of emerging robotics technologies. The cards can be used in a variety of different ways, depending on the audience, context and need. The cards are made available through a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0) license. The cards are available as physical cards or digitally via an app. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The EMERGENCE network have used the empathy cards at a number of events during 2023, 2024 and 2025. By using these graphically illustrated empathy cards, we have captured and communicated the voices of people with lived experience of frailty, in a way which has not been done before, to generate more insightful understanding of the psychological and social impact of frailty and these cards are helping other researchers navigate regulatory and ethical requirements, ensuring clinical and market viability, as well as user acceptance. Impact on Stakeholders: Researchers and Technologists: Provided a unique tool to engage with diverse perspectives, leading to more inclusive and ethically sound research and development. General Public and Stakeholders: Enabled a broader audience to engage with and understand the complexities of designing assistive technologies, fostering greater acceptance and support. |
| URL | https://forms.office.com/e/0MKe9iFqL4 |
| Title | Use of personas for co-production |
| Description | We have generated, based on existing evidence-based sources, a set of 10 personas specifically intended for participatory co-production activities. These personas depict, in easy-to-digest formats, the backgrounds, health statuses and characteristics of (fictitious) older people who are pre-frail but managing; who are vulnerable or living with mild frailty; and who are living with moderate to severe frailty. This range of personas allows their use in different contexts and for different purposes. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The personas were validated by the project steering group and subsequently used successfully in a series of co-production workshops with older people, their carers and other health and care professionals. The personas will be made publicly available for other research purposes through the project website. |
| Title | 3D Model of the Viewpoint Carehome based on Real Scans |
| Description | We performed a set of 3D scans of the Viewpoint care home which allowed us to develop a set of CAD models (stp) file which we used to test our robotic platform in a Unity based simulation. We hope this will be openly available soon but are awaiting agreements with the care home. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The care home expressed they wish to work further with us on the scanning aspect of the home as a way of both marketing and being a digitally enabled care facility. |
| Title | Multipurpose 3D CAD model of Cobot Maker Space living lab and ward room |
| Description | A 1:1 scale 3D model available in multiple formats to enable researchers to run robot simulations in spaces replicating the Cobot Maker Space, University of Nottingham (https://cobotmakerspace.org/about-the-space/ ), prior to real world deployment. The model includes the Cobot Maker Space living lab, ward room, disabled bathroom, surrounding corridors, as well as fittings and furniture. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The model will allow researchers to run simulations before using robots in the real world. This will be available to anyone interested in using robots within the labs, with the aim to streamline deployment by highlighting problems early in the development process. |
| URL | https://forms.office.com/e/0MKe9iFqL4 |
| Description | ADVANCED CARE RESEARCH CENTRE, University of Edinburgh |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Usher Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Steering Group for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions; Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event; The ACRC Implementation Lead (Health & Social Care Data Driven Innovation) has contributed to advertise and attended WP1 and WP4 workshops. He also reviewed some of the proposals that were submitted to the network. The two EMERGENCE WP1 workshops organised by Heriot-Watt in July 2022 (http://care.hw.ac.uk/blog/2022/08/11/News.html) were hosted at the University of Edinburgh with the support of the Advanced Care Research Centre. |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Architecture vs Robots - Assessing constraints of the physical environment |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from project team: "I had the opportunity to work with a talented, multi-disciplinary team, which was an excellent experience in learning from different areas of expertise. This collaboration allowed us to approach challenges from various perspectives, leading to innovative solutions. I also had access to the Robot Lab at the University of Hertfordshire, which provided valuable hands-on experience with advanced robotics technologies. This experience was crucial in deepening my understanding of the field and enhancing my skills. Another highlight was making new connections, such as with Cian O'Donovan, which has helped expand my professional network and provided opportunities for future collaboration." "EMERGENCE has created a unique opportunity to bring together a multidisciplinary team that otherwise might not have collaborated, laying the groundwork for impactful work at the intersection of health, architecture, and technology. This initiative has the potential to benefit international audiences and foster new networks with robotics experts, which will be invaluable for future grant applications and for building strong, collaborative teams. Additionally, the adoption of new simulation software, such as Gazebo, has significantly enhanced our ability to test environments virtually, eliminating the need for physical setups and reducing time requirements. This innovative approach has expanded the scope and efficiency of our work" "The network provided a valuable opportunity to develop deeper insight into the rapidly evolving field of smart technology and robotics, particularly within the healthcare sector, and helped forge collaboration across disciplines. It has played a crucial role in enhancing the understanding of the potential applications of robotic assistance in healthcare; an area that is both timely and critical." "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has been a significant benefit to my development as a researcher. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team across different Universities and departments has broadened my perspective, allowing me to appreciate the diverse challenges in deploying robots beyond the lab." |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project was funded under the first Robotics for Frailty challenge funding call and completed on 31/11/2024. The project brought together experts from robotics, healthcare, and architecture to address the struggle of robots to adapt to real-world homes of older adults which are often smaller and more cluttered with more obstacles. The team visited various homes, including sheltered housing for people with frailty, to gather data about real living environments. They created 3D scans, detailed floor plans, and architectural models of these homes. Using this information, they tested how robots interact with realistic residential settings, identifying challenges and opportunities for improvement. The project team also conducted focus groups and interviews with 24 stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and housing experts, to ensure the representation of practical and diverse needs. Then, at the dissemination event, 22 experts discussed and refined details through interactive workshops in a Delphi-type, iterative engagement. From this work, they engaged in a co-creative process which supported the development of a three tier framework that provides architects, allied healthcare professionals and people involved in robot R&D with the insights needed to a) design or modify suitable spaces for robot cohabitation b) allied health professionals to reflect and consider on the needs and requirements for such technologies in relation to their target population and specific needs as well as spatial constraints and c) professionals in the robotic industry to reflect on aspects influencing the design of robots and its potential for adoption in relation to people-robot cohabitation in relation to frailty but also vulnerability in general. Project objectives: Documenting and explaining the factors of the built environment that affect effective cohabitation interaction. Documenting and explaining the physical factors of robotics that affect effective cohabitation interaction within the built environment. Amalgamate and align the needs and requirements of the resident with frailty, the technological requirements and limitations of the robot and the built environment. Project Activities: The project collaborated with allied health professionals to finalise criteria for participant eligibility and diversity, focusing on individuals with frailty. The team visited Gloucester City Homes and the Robot House at the University of Hertfordshire, collecting data from two flats-one generic and one adapted for frail residents. This included architectural measurements, photographs, and care worker input. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 24 stakeholders, including housing managers, healthcare professionals, and strategists. Eight lived-in properties of frail residents in sheltered housing were visited at Gloucester City Homes, with 3D scans and CAD floor plans created to model real-life environments. Using these models, the team migrated to Gazebo software to simulate robot interactions in residential settings. Home assessments by health professionals highlighted factors affecting residents' functionality within their homes. The team developed a draft framework for designing co-habitable, frailty-friendly living environments. An online dissemination event was held on November 20, 2024, featuring presentations by team members and industry collaborators. A workshop followed, where 19 participants worked in breakout rooms to provide feedback on the framework. Insights from the workshop were incorporated into the framework, which aims to inform the future development of practical, adaptable robots for real-world home environments Quotes from project team: "This project opened new horizons for my research and challenged me to move to directions that my discipline has not really explored. We have created some very interesting deliverables, such as the papers, presentations and the framework which have been received very favourably by stakeholders and will enable us to build further in that direction in the future." "The multidisciplinary nature of this work has been its greatest strength. By integrating expertise from the Built Environment, Computer Science, and Health, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the critical role the built environment plays in shaping emerging technologies, both now and in the future. This experience has allowed me to introduce a new dimension to an area of growing importance-one that often overlooks the built environment as a key factor to be considered. This perspective is vital as we strive to develop technologies that are not only innovative but also practical and inclusive in real-world settings. Having the knowledge and also now expertise of a great team is highly valuable." "As a new researcher, I gained insights into collaborative methodologies and benefitted from exposure to expertise beyond my field. Additionally, engaging with ongoing work in assistive robotics expanded my knowledge of the latest advancements, enhancing the relevance of my own research. Working across institutions and disciplines was a rewarding experience that not only broadened my perspective, but also strengthened my ability to contribute meaningfully to cross-disciplinary initiatives in the future." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Cardiff University, UCL (University College London), and Hobbs Rehabilitation (Neurological Specialists) including the following disciplines: Healthcare Architecture, Human computer interaction, Accessibility, Robot Computer Interaction, Population Health, Physiotherapy. The project is also supported by Gloucester City Homes. Focus groups and interviews: positive outlook towards the integration of Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) in sheltered housing. Participants viewed SARS as complementary tools to human care. Personalisation: key to ensuring SARs meet the diverse needs of residents, with many expressing the potential for SARs to offer companionship and promote independence among vulnerable individuals. Participants saw SARs as a viable alternative to existing monitoring systems. Crucial challenges highlighted: Concerns about technology literacy were prevalent. Educational initiatives and hands-on demonstrations were suggested. Privacy concerns and cost of the devices as significant barriers to implementation. The team deployed a rapid 3D scanning technique to create photo-realistic models of indoor space, giving stakeholders the ability to scrutinise spaces visually, remotely and in bulk. The team automated the production of architectural drawings (3-dimensional) and assist in large scale reproduction of potentially accurate plans (including most furniture). To test robot interactions across various environments, the team transitioned the CAD-like models into a simulation space using Gazebo. The team introduced an interactive robot and conducted simulations of behaviour in different areas. Key insights: ? highlighted the robot's ability-or inability-to navigate certain spaces effectively. ? identified limitations within the simulation process itself. Findings underscore areas for improvement in robot's capabilities and simulation setups Deliverables: Cohabitation Framework Grant submission Conference submissions Conference submissions Dissemination Event The research has provided guidance for future development in healthcare robotics for frailty. By engaging relevant stakeholders, it has identified essential design priorities, including personalisation, usability, and ethical considerations, while addressing barriers such as technology literacy, privacy, and cost. These insights will inform the creation of SARs designed to enhance safety, independence, and companionship for vulnerable individuals in sheltered housing, providing a foundation for significant advancements in the field. While our observations from the simulations will help to inform physical design decisions when it comes to the development and testing of future SARs |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Architecture vs Robots - Assessing constraints of the physical environment |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from project team: "I had the opportunity to work with a talented, multi-disciplinary team, which was an excellent experience in learning from different areas of expertise. This collaboration allowed us to approach challenges from various perspectives, leading to innovative solutions. I also had access to the Robot Lab at the University of Hertfordshire, which provided valuable hands-on experience with advanced robotics technologies. This experience was crucial in deepening my understanding of the field and enhancing my skills. Another highlight was making new connections, such as with Cian O'Donovan, which has helped expand my professional network and provided opportunities for future collaboration." "EMERGENCE has created a unique opportunity to bring together a multidisciplinary team that otherwise might not have collaborated, laying the groundwork for impactful work at the intersection of health, architecture, and technology. This initiative has the potential to benefit international audiences and foster new networks with robotics experts, which will be invaluable for future grant applications and for building strong, collaborative teams. Additionally, the adoption of new simulation software, such as Gazebo, has significantly enhanced our ability to test environments virtually, eliminating the need for physical setups and reducing time requirements. This innovative approach has expanded the scope and efficiency of our work" "The network provided a valuable opportunity to develop deeper insight into the rapidly evolving field of smart technology and robotics, particularly within the healthcare sector, and helped forge collaboration across disciplines. It has played a crucial role in enhancing the understanding of the potential applications of robotic assistance in healthcare; an area that is both timely and critical." "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has been a significant benefit to my development as a researcher. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team across different Universities and departments has broadened my perspective, allowing me to appreciate the diverse challenges in deploying robots beyond the lab." |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project was funded under the first Robotics for Frailty challenge funding call and completed on 31/11/2024. The project brought together experts from robotics, healthcare, and architecture to address the struggle of robots to adapt to real-world homes of older adults which are often smaller and more cluttered with more obstacles. The team visited various homes, including sheltered housing for people with frailty, to gather data about real living environments. They created 3D scans, detailed floor plans, and architectural models of these homes. Using this information, they tested how robots interact with realistic residential settings, identifying challenges and opportunities for improvement. The project team also conducted focus groups and interviews with 24 stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and housing experts, to ensure the representation of practical and diverse needs. Then, at the dissemination event, 22 experts discussed and refined details through interactive workshops in a Delphi-type, iterative engagement. From this work, they engaged in a co-creative process which supported the development of a three tier framework that provides architects, allied healthcare professionals and people involved in robot R&D with the insights needed to a) design or modify suitable spaces for robot cohabitation b) allied health professionals to reflect and consider on the needs and requirements for such technologies in relation to their target population and specific needs as well as spatial constraints and c) professionals in the robotic industry to reflect on aspects influencing the design of robots and its potential for adoption in relation to people-robot cohabitation in relation to frailty but also vulnerability in general. Project objectives: Documenting and explaining the factors of the built environment that affect effective cohabitation interaction. Documenting and explaining the physical factors of robotics that affect effective cohabitation interaction within the built environment. Amalgamate and align the needs and requirements of the resident with frailty, the technological requirements and limitations of the robot and the built environment. Project Activities: The project collaborated with allied health professionals to finalise criteria for participant eligibility and diversity, focusing on individuals with frailty. The team visited Gloucester City Homes and the Robot House at the University of Hertfordshire, collecting data from two flats-one generic and one adapted for frail residents. This included architectural measurements, photographs, and care worker input. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 24 stakeholders, including housing managers, healthcare professionals, and strategists. Eight lived-in properties of frail residents in sheltered housing were visited at Gloucester City Homes, with 3D scans and CAD floor plans created to model real-life environments. Using these models, the team migrated to Gazebo software to simulate robot interactions in residential settings. Home assessments by health professionals highlighted factors affecting residents' functionality within their homes. The team developed a draft framework for designing co-habitable, frailty-friendly living environments. An online dissemination event was held on November 20, 2024, featuring presentations by team members and industry collaborators. A workshop followed, where 19 participants worked in breakout rooms to provide feedback on the framework. Insights from the workshop were incorporated into the framework, which aims to inform the future development of practical, adaptable robots for real-world home environments Quotes from project team: "This project opened new horizons for my research and challenged me to move to directions that my discipline has not really explored. We have created some very interesting deliverables, such as the papers, presentations and the framework which have been received very favourably by stakeholders and will enable us to build further in that direction in the future." "The multidisciplinary nature of this work has been its greatest strength. By integrating expertise from the Built Environment, Computer Science, and Health, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the critical role the built environment plays in shaping emerging technologies, both now and in the future. This experience has allowed me to introduce a new dimension to an area of growing importance-one that often overlooks the built environment as a key factor to be considered. This perspective is vital as we strive to develop technologies that are not only innovative but also practical and inclusive in real-world settings. Having the knowledge and also now expertise of a great team is highly valuable." "As a new researcher, I gained insights into collaborative methodologies and benefitted from exposure to expertise beyond my field. Additionally, engaging with ongoing work in assistive robotics expanded my knowledge of the latest advancements, enhancing the relevance of my own research. Working across institutions and disciplines was a rewarding experience that not only broadened my perspective, but also strengthened my ability to contribute meaningfully to cross-disciplinary initiatives in the future." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Cardiff University, UCL (University College London), and Hobbs Rehabilitation (Neurological Specialists) including the following disciplines: Healthcare Architecture, Human computer interaction, Accessibility, Robot Computer Interaction, Population Health, Physiotherapy. The project is also supported by Gloucester City Homes. Focus groups and interviews: positive outlook towards the integration of Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) in sheltered housing. Participants viewed SARS as complementary tools to human care. Personalisation: key to ensuring SARs meet the diverse needs of residents, with many expressing the potential for SARs to offer companionship and promote independence among vulnerable individuals. Participants saw SARs as a viable alternative to existing monitoring systems. Crucial challenges highlighted: Concerns about technology literacy were prevalent. Educational initiatives and hands-on demonstrations were suggested. Privacy concerns and cost of the devices as significant barriers to implementation. The team deployed a rapid 3D scanning technique to create photo-realistic models of indoor space, giving stakeholders the ability to scrutinise spaces visually, remotely and in bulk. The team automated the production of architectural drawings (3-dimensional) and assist in large scale reproduction of potentially accurate plans (including most furniture). To test robot interactions across various environments, the team transitioned the CAD-like models into a simulation space using Gazebo. The team introduced an interactive robot and conducted simulations of behaviour in different areas. Key insights: ? highlighted the robot's ability-or inability-to navigate certain spaces effectively. ? identified limitations within the simulation process itself. Findings underscore areas for improvement in robot's capabilities and simulation setups Deliverables: Cohabitation Framework Grant submission Conference submissions Conference submissions Dissemination Event The research has provided guidance for future development in healthcare robotics for frailty. By engaging relevant stakeholders, it has identified essential design priorities, including personalisation, usability, and ethical considerations, while addressing barriers such as technology literacy, privacy, and cost. These insights will inform the creation of SARs designed to enhance safety, independence, and companionship for vulnerable individuals in sheltered housing, providing a foundation for significant advancements in the field. While our observations from the simulations will help to inform physical design decisions when it comes to the development and testing of future SARs |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Barnsley Assistive Technology Team |
| Organisation | Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022) ; Co-creation Methodology Workshop (08/11/2022); SHared Learning, KNowledge Exchange and Mentoring Event (19/02/2024); Consortium Networking Event (20/02/2024) A representative of Barnsley Assistive Technology Team sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects. Zoe Clarke, EC Service Lead for the Assistive Technology Team at Barnsley Hospital NHS Trust, gave a keynote talk titled "Assistive Technology: The importance of appropriate development and provision" at the EMERGENCE Consortium Networking Event (20/02/2024) Zoe Clarke, EC Service Lead for the Assistive Technology Team at Barnsley Hospital NHS Trust, gave a keynote talk titled "Assistive Technology: The importance of appropriate development and provision" at the CHART Summer School (05/09/2024) |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Blackwood Group |
| Organisation | Blackwood |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. Representatives from Blackwood Group are involved collaboratively, as project team members, with the work being undertaken by funded feasiblity study "CPD ecosystems: wearable robotics for frailty" directly influencing the direction of their work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following event: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); WP1 Workshop activity (04/07/2022 and 15/07/2022) Assistance with recruitment to WP1 Workshop activities in Edinburgh Assistance with recruitment to Steering Group Supported initial proposal for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Bristol Health Partners |
| Organisation | Bristol Health Partners |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022); Co-creation Methodology Workshop (14/11/2022) A representative of Bristol Health Partners sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CATLYP - Connecting all the Lonely People |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. The project is funded under the mitigation research theme and will assess the acceptability and feasibility of older adults affected by loneliness and social isolation to host and interact with social robots in their homes. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Computer Science, Robotics, Public Health and Community Care, Engineering, Architecture from the University of Hertfordshire, King's College London and University of Sheffield. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CATLYP - Connecting all the Lonely People |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. The project is funded under the mitigation research theme and will assess the acceptability and feasibility of older adults affected by loneliness and social isolation to host and interact with social robots in their homes. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Computer Science, Robotics, Public Health and Community Care, Engineering, Architecture from the University of Hertfordshire, King's College London and University of Sheffield. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CATLYP - Connecting all the Lonely People |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. The project is funded under the mitigation research theme and will assess the acceptability and feasibility of older adults affected by loneliness and social isolation to host and interact with social robots in their homes. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Computer Science, Robotics, Public Health and Community Care, Engineering, Architecture from the University of Hertfordshire, King's College London and University of Sheffield. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CENSIS |
| Organisation | Innovation Centre for Sensor and Imaging Systems CENSIS |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions(12/01/2022) |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CHART - Cyber-physical Health and Assistive Robotics Technologies Research Group |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Presentations to the CHART research group to disseminate key findings to be incorporated into research themes and projects. Provided opportunities for further engagement through attendance at Summer School in a supporting capacity. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cyber-physical Health and Assistive Robotics Technologies (CHART) at the University of Nottingham is an interdisciplinary research group that conducts foundational and applied research in intelligent cyber-physical systems and robotics technologies to support personalised health and well-being. CHART provided sponsorship and support for our Summer School in September 2024 in the form of technical and administrative support. |
| Impact | Members of CHART were able to hear and participate in all sessions and benefitted from experience in supporting PPIE members and running technical demonstrations. Summer school attendees benefitted from hearing about the current research a project work being undertaken by the group. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | CIREI - Challenges of Integrating Robots with Embodied Intelligence in the Homes of Older People Living with Frailty: Towards a Smart Middleware Architecture |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has significantly enhanced our research by providing access to a diverse community of experts and stakeholders. This has broadened our understanding of real-world challenges and opportunities in deploying robotics. The network's collaborative environment enabled us to refine our approach to ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and practical applications. By sharing insights and learning from others' experiences, we have strengthened our ability to anticipate and address potential barriers, accelerating the transition of our assistive technology/robotics solutions from lab to real-world settings. The knowledge gained has been invaluable in shaping our deployment strategies and ensuring societal relevance" "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has provided invaluable benefits to my research and professional growth. It allowed me to collaborate with a diverse group of experts, gaining insights into cutting-edge methodologies and best practices for accelerating robotic deployment. The network significantly expanded my connections within both academia and industry, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, the exposure to real-world challenges and solutions deepened my understanding of how to effectively bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical application, making my work more impactful and aligned with the needs of end users" "The EMERGENCE network has given the opportunity to forge new collaborations with a diverse group of researchers, experts and industry professionals. Network events have both showcased cutting-edge research and provided workshop activities that have helped me consider new approaches to planning and conducting my research. The insights gained have proven useful in shaping wider research projects through further identifying relevant and meaningful questions to ask at differing TRL stages and provided inspiration in choosing effective methods to pursue these" |
| Collaborator Contribution | The CIREI project was funded under the better management research theme of the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/07/2024. The CIREI project was a pioneering initiative aimed at improving the lives of people living with frailty through technology. Despite the availability of many smart devices, such as robotic helpers and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, their full potential to create supportive home environments has not been fully realized. The project introduced a smart middleware called WISE-WARE, which effectively connects and integrates various off-the-shelf assistive devices. One of the standout features of CIREI was its collaborative approach. The project involved a diverse group of stakeholders, including technology developers, healthcare professionals, and the very people who would use these technologies. By working together, we ensured that the WISE-WARE middleware was not only technically sound but also met the real needs and preferences of the end-users. This approach sets a new benchmark for creating user-centered healthcare technologies, emphasizing the importance of direct input from those who stand to benefit. During the project, a prototype application was developed that utilised data analytics to monitor signs of frailty from various connected devices. This allows caregivers to adjust their support based on real-time information, making care more personalized and responsive. For instance, if a device detects that a resident is having difficulty with daily activities, the system can alert caregivers or suggest interventions tailored to the individual's needs. The findings from the CIREI project are also crucial for shaping policies and best practices in the field of assistive technology. By identifying the barriers and facilitators to technology adoption, the project provides valuable insights that can enhance solutions for the aging population. In summary, the CIREI project took a significant step toward creating 'smart and assistive' homes for individuals with frailty. By integrating various assistive devices and leveraging data to inform care, the project not only showcases the potential for improved daily support but also lays the groundwork for future innovations in healthcare technology. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration in technology development, ensuring that solutions are both effective and user-friendly. Project Objectives: Investigate the current state of-the-art of robotics and assistive technologies' limitations and barriers to adoption. Define the functional and non-functional specifications, or the architectural characteristics, of the middleware (WISE-WARE) Develop a proof-of-concept middleware (WISE-WARE), and a simple data analytics application to demonstrate its capabilities Project Activities: The CIREI project involved a series of structured activities aimed at developing a smart middleware solution for individuals living with frailty. Key activities included a co-design workshop (30 participants) in collaboration with Astraline, informed by an extensive literature review of over 900 sources. The workshop included various bespoke activities such as brainstorming, affinity mapping, and semi-structured interviews to help gather insights, leading to the creation of the CIREI model, which identifies key barriers to adopting smart technologies. Additionally, two ethics workshops ensured adherence to ethical research practiceswere conducted before and after the workshop. The project culminated in the development of WISE-WARE, a proof-of-concept middleware capable of integrating various off-the-shelf devices and processing their data streams. A PoC application was also created to demonstrate WISE-WARE's capabilities in residential settings. Thorough tests of WISE-WARE were conducted in the robotics labs at both Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Nottingham (CoBot Maker), and all design decisions and results were meticulously documented. This collaborative effort engaged a diverse range of participants and stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enhancing daily support for individuals living with frailty. Quotes from the project team: "The project thrived due to a focus on open standards and technologies, enabling quick integration and rapid development of proof of concepts. The training process inspired a recruited RA to pursue a research career, leading her to apply for a funded MPhil supported by the Royal Marsden Trust. Diverse perspectives from team members enriched our experiences, while RRI meetings deepened our understanding of research requirements for creating accessible products. Collaborative support from UoN and SHU facilitated effective testing in CoBot Maker and SIT labs, enhancing the overall project outcomes and fostering a strong partnership among participants." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from the following disciplines: Computer Science; Mental Health and Digital Technology; Cybersecurity and Privacy; Human-Computer Interaction across the following institutions: Sheffield Hallam University, King's College London, Sheffield University and the University of Nottingham. The team also draws on expertise from health and social care professionals and TEC specialists from Darnall Wellbeing and Astraline. The project successfully developed the CIREI framework, a comprehensive model aimed at enhancing the integration of assistive technologies in smart homes for prefrail older adults. Key insights emerged from the co-design workshop, revealing critical factors influencing technology adoption, such as usability, privacy, and personalized learning preferences. These findings underscored the importance of user-centered design in addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by older adults and their caregivers. Additionally, the project produced a middleware prototype that seamlessly integrates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, facilitating health management and improving the quality of life for older adults. By engaging both residents and experts throughout the project, the team ensured that our solution is adaptable and relevant, providing a robust foundation for future research and development in user-centered technology design. Ultimately, the project not only advanced our understanding of assistive technology integration but also fostered a collaborative approach, empowering older adults to maintain independence and enhancing their overall wellbeing. Deliverables: D1: Survey report on the current state of the art of assistive technologies and their limitations, and the designed RRI process. D2: Software requirements specifications (SRS) of the (WISE-WARE) middleware D3: Source codes and documentation of the proof-of-concept implementation of the middleware and a prototype data analytics application D4-A: Journal article to be submitted to IEEE Access D4-B: Final Presentation that contains the summary of these contributions that were presented at an EMERGENCE consortium event. Additionally, the project's GitHub website includes the following: - WISE-WARE PoC: [Docker compose file] and [Shell scripts] - WISE WARE PoC [architecture] and [Installation and Configuration] - WISE-WARE PoC: [Installation Video] - Data Analytics PoC: [Kafka Connectors & Stream] and [Telegraf & Grafana] - Data Analytics PoC [documentation] - Workshop materials: o A3: CIREI Welcome slides and Icebreaker activity o A4: Brainstorming Activity prompt cards o A5: Brainstorming facilitator guide o A6: Affinity mapping facilitator guide o A7: Voting activity reference document o A8: Quantitative survey o A9: Semi-structured interview guide and sheet The CIREI project has directly influenced healthcare technologies for frailty through its innovative CIREI framework and WISE-WARE middleware PoC. The framework integrates assistive technologies in smart homes, addressing usability, privacy, and personalized learning. The WISE-WARE PoC enables seamless integration of commercial devices, encouraging a rethink of secure, adaptable smart home hubs. High-quality materials, including detailed workshop tools and documentation, were produced, enhancing co-designed methodologies. Insights from the co-design workshops highlighted the importance of user-centered design, fostering technology adoption for older adults, and promoting independent living with improved health management solutions. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CIREI - Challenges of Integrating Robots with Embodied Intelligence in the Homes of Older People Living with Frailty: Towards a Smart Middleware Architecture |
| Organisation | Sheffield Hallam University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has significantly enhanced our research by providing access to a diverse community of experts and stakeholders. This has broadened our understanding of real-world challenges and opportunities in deploying robotics. The network's collaborative environment enabled us to refine our approach to ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and practical applications. By sharing insights and learning from others' experiences, we have strengthened our ability to anticipate and address potential barriers, accelerating the transition of our assistive technology/robotics solutions from lab to real-world settings. The knowledge gained has been invaluable in shaping our deployment strategies and ensuring societal relevance" "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has provided invaluable benefits to my research and professional growth. It allowed me to collaborate with a diverse group of experts, gaining insights into cutting-edge methodologies and best practices for accelerating robotic deployment. The network significantly expanded my connections within both academia and industry, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, the exposure to real-world challenges and solutions deepened my understanding of how to effectively bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical application, making my work more impactful and aligned with the needs of end users" "The EMERGENCE network has given the opportunity to forge new collaborations with a diverse group of researchers, experts and industry professionals. Network events have both showcased cutting-edge research and provided workshop activities that have helped me consider new approaches to planning and conducting my research. The insights gained have proven useful in shaping wider research projects through further identifying relevant and meaningful questions to ask at differing TRL stages and provided inspiration in choosing effective methods to pursue these" |
| Collaborator Contribution | The CIREI project was funded under the better management research theme of the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/07/2024. The CIREI project was a pioneering initiative aimed at improving the lives of people living with frailty through technology. Despite the availability of many smart devices, such as robotic helpers and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, their full potential to create supportive home environments has not been fully realized. The project introduced a smart middleware called WISE-WARE, which effectively connects and integrates various off-the-shelf assistive devices. One of the standout features of CIREI was its collaborative approach. The project involved a diverse group of stakeholders, including technology developers, healthcare professionals, and the very people who would use these technologies. By working together, we ensured that the WISE-WARE middleware was not only technically sound but also met the real needs and preferences of the end-users. This approach sets a new benchmark for creating user-centered healthcare technologies, emphasizing the importance of direct input from those who stand to benefit. During the project, a prototype application was developed that utilised data analytics to monitor signs of frailty from various connected devices. This allows caregivers to adjust their support based on real-time information, making care more personalized and responsive. For instance, if a device detects that a resident is having difficulty with daily activities, the system can alert caregivers or suggest interventions tailored to the individual's needs. The findings from the CIREI project are also crucial for shaping policies and best practices in the field of assistive technology. By identifying the barriers and facilitators to technology adoption, the project provides valuable insights that can enhance solutions for the aging population. In summary, the CIREI project took a significant step toward creating 'smart and assistive' homes for individuals with frailty. By integrating various assistive devices and leveraging data to inform care, the project not only showcases the potential for improved daily support but also lays the groundwork for future innovations in healthcare technology. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration in technology development, ensuring that solutions are both effective and user-friendly. Project Objectives: Investigate the current state of-the-art of robotics and assistive technologies' limitations and barriers to adoption. Define the functional and non-functional specifications, or the architectural characteristics, of the middleware (WISE-WARE) Develop a proof-of-concept middleware (WISE-WARE), and a simple data analytics application to demonstrate its capabilities Project Activities: The CIREI project involved a series of structured activities aimed at developing a smart middleware solution for individuals living with frailty. Key activities included a co-design workshop (30 participants) in collaboration with Astraline, informed by an extensive literature review of over 900 sources. The workshop included various bespoke activities such as brainstorming, affinity mapping, and semi-structured interviews to help gather insights, leading to the creation of the CIREI model, which identifies key barriers to adopting smart technologies. Additionally, two ethics workshops ensured adherence to ethical research practiceswere conducted before and after the workshop. The project culminated in the development of WISE-WARE, a proof-of-concept middleware capable of integrating various off-the-shelf devices and processing their data streams. A PoC application was also created to demonstrate WISE-WARE's capabilities in residential settings. Thorough tests of WISE-WARE were conducted in the robotics labs at both Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Nottingham (CoBot Maker), and all design decisions and results were meticulously documented. This collaborative effort engaged a diverse range of participants and stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enhancing daily support for individuals living with frailty. Quotes from the project team: "The project thrived due to a focus on open standards and technologies, enabling quick integration and rapid development of proof of concepts. The training process inspired a recruited RA to pursue a research career, leading her to apply for a funded MPhil supported by the Royal Marsden Trust. Diverse perspectives from team members enriched our experiences, while RRI meetings deepened our understanding of research requirements for creating accessible products. Collaborative support from UoN and SHU facilitated effective testing in CoBot Maker and SIT labs, enhancing the overall project outcomes and fostering a strong partnership among participants." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from the following disciplines: Computer Science; Mental Health and Digital Technology; Cybersecurity and Privacy; Human-Computer Interaction across the following institutions: Sheffield Hallam University, King's College London, Sheffield University and the University of Nottingham. The team also draws on expertise from health and social care professionals and TEC specialists from Darnall Wellbeing and Astraline. The project successfully developed the CIREI framework, a comprehensive model aimed at enhancing the integration of assistive technologies in smart homes for prefrail older adults. Key insights emerged from the co-design workshop, revealing critical factors influencing technology adoption, such as usability, privacy, and personalized learning preferences. These findings underscored the importance of user-centered design in addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by older adults and their caregivers. Additionally, the project produced a middleware prototype that seamlessly integrates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, facilitating health management and improving the quality of life for older adults. By engaging both residents and experts throughout the project, the team ensured that our solution is adaptable and relevant, providing a robust foundation for future research and development in user-centered technology design. Ultimately, the project not only advanced our understanding of assistive technology integration but also fostered a collaborative approach, empowering older adults to maintain independence and enhancing their overall wellbeing. Deliverables: D1: Survey report on the current state of the art of assistive technologies and their limitations, and the designed RRI process. D2: Software requirements specifications (SRS) of the (WISE-WARE) middleware D3: Source codes and documentation of the proof-of-concept implementation of the middleware and a prototype data analytics application D4-A: Journal article to be submitted to IEEE Access D4-B: Final Presentation that contains the summary of these contributions that were presented at an EMERGENCE consortium event. Additionally, the project's GitHub website includes the following: - WISE-WARE PoC: [Docker compose file] and [Shell scripts] - WISE WARE PoC [architecture] and [Installation and Configuration] - WISE-WARE PoC: [Installation Video] - Data Analytics PoC: [Kafka Connectors & Stream] and [Telegraf & Grafana] - Data Analytics PoC [documentation] - Workshop materials: o A3: CIREI Welcome slides and Icebreaker activity o A4: Brainstorming Activity prompt cards o A5: Brainstorming facilitator guide o A6: Affinity mapping facilitator guide o A7: Voting activity reference document o A8: Quantitative survey o A9: Semi-structured interview guide and sheet The CIREI project has directly influenced healthcare technologies for frailty through its innovative CIREI framework and WISE-WARE middleware PoC. The framework integrates assistive technologies in smart homes, addressing usability, privacy, and personalized learning. The WISE-WARE PoC enables seamless integration of commercial devices, encouraging a rethink of secure, adaptable smart home hubs. High-quality materials, including detailed workshop tools and documentation, were produced, enhancing co-designed methodologies. Insights from the co-design workshops highlighted the importance of user-centered design, fostering technology adoption for older adults, and promoting independent living with improved health management solutions. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CIREI - Challenges of Integrating Robots with Embodied Intelligence in the Homes of Older People Living with Frailty: Towards a Smart Middleware Architecture |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has significantly enhanced our research by providing access to a diverse community of experts and stakeholders. This has broadened our understanding of real-world challenges and opportunities in deploying robotics. The network's collaborative environment enabled us to refine our approach to ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and practical applications. By sharing insights and learning from others' experiences, we have strengthened our ability to anticipate and address potential barriers, accelerating the transition of our assistive technology/robotics solutions from lab to real-world settings. The knowledge gained has been invaluable in shaping our deployment strategies and ensuring societal relevance" "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has provided invaluable benefits to my research and professional growth. It allowed me to collaborate with a diverse group of experts, gaining insights into cutting-edge methodologies and best practices for accelerating robotic deployment. The network significantly expanded my connections within both academia and industry, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, the exposure to real-world challenges and solutions deepened my understanding of how to effectively bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical application, making my work more impactful and aligned with the needs of end users" "The EMERGENCE network has given the opportunity to forge new collaborations with a diverse group of researchers, experts and industry professionals. Network events have both showcased cutting-edge research and provided workshop activities that have helped me consider new approaches to planning and conducting my research. The insights gained have proven useful in shaping wider research projects through further identifying relevant and meaningful questions to ask at differing TRL stages and provided inspiration in choosing effective methods to pursue these" |
| Collaborator Contribution | The CIREI project was funded under the better management research theme of the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/07/2024. The CIREI project was a pioneering initiative aimed at improving the lives of people living with frailty through technology. Despite the availability of many smart devices, such as robotic helpers and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, their full potential to create supportive home environments has not been fully realized. The project introduced a smart middleware called WISE-WARE, which effectively connects and integrates various off-the-shelf assistive devices. One of the standout features of CIREI was its collaborative approach. The project involved a diverse group of stakeholders, including technology developers, healthcare professionals, and the very people who would use these technologies. By working together, we ensured that the WISE-WARE middleware was not only technically sound but also met the real needs and preferences of the end-users. This approach sets a new benchmark for creating user-centered healthcare technologies, emphasizing the importance of direct input from those who stand to benefit. During the project, a prototype application was developed that utilised data analytics to monitor signs of frailty from various connected devices. This allows caregivers to adjust their support based on real-time information, making care more personalized and responsive. For instance, if a device detects that a resident is having difficulty with daily activities, the system can alert caregivers or suggest interventions tailored to the individual's needs. The findings from the CIREI project are also crucial for shaping policies and best practices in the field of assistive technology. By identifying the barriers and facilitators to technology adoption, the project provides valuable insights that can enhance solutions for the aging population. In summary, the CIREI project took a significant step toward creating 'smart and assistive' homes for individuals with frailty. By integrating various assistive devices and leveraging data to inform care, the project not only showcases the potential for improved daily support but also lays the groundwork for future innovations in healthcare technology. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration in technology development, ensuring that solutions are both effective and user-friendly. Project Objectives: Investigate the current state of-the-art of robotics and assistive technologies' limitations and barriers to adoption. Define the functional and non-functional specifications, or the architectural characteristics, of the middleware (WISE-WARE) Develop a proof-of-concept middleware (WISE-WARE), and a simple data analytics application to demonstrate its capabilities Project Activities: The CIREI project involved a series of structured activities aimed at developing a smart middleware solution for individuals living with frailty. Key activities included a co-design workshop (30 participants) in collaboration with Astraline, informed by an extensive literature review of over 900 sources. The workshop included various bespoke activities such as brainstorming, affinity mapping, and semi-structured interviews to help gather insights, leading to the creation of the CIREI model, which identifies key barriers to adopting smart technologies. Additionally, two ethics workshops ensured adherence to ethical research practiceswere conducted before and after the workshop. The project culminated in the development of WISE-WARE, a proof-of-concept middleware capable of integrating various off-the-shelf devices and processing their data streams. A PoC application was also created to demonstrate WISE-WARE's capabilities in residential settings. Thorough tests of WISE-WARE were conducted in the robotics labs at both Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Nottingham (CoBot Maker), and all design decisions and results were meticulously documented. This collaborative effort engaged a diverse range of participants and stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enhancing daily support for individuals living with frailty. Quotes from the project team: "The project thrived due to a focus on open standards and technologies, enabling quick integration and rapid development of proof of concepts. The training process inspired a recruited RA to pursue a research career, leading her to apply for a funded MPhil supported by the Royal Marsden Trust. Diverse perspectives from team members enriched our experiences, while RRI meetings deepened our understanding of research requirements for creating accessible products. Collaborative support from UoN and SHU facilitated effective testing in CoBot Maker and SIT labs, enhancing the overall project outcomes and fostering a strong partnership among participants." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from the following disciplines: Computer Science; Mental Health and Digital Technology; Cybersecurity and Privacy; Human-Computer Interaction across the following institutions: Sheffield Hallam University, King's College London, Sheffield University and the University of Nottingham. The team also draws on expertise from health and social care professionals and TEC specialists from Darnall Wellbeing and Astraline. The project successfully developed the CIREI framework, a comprehensive model aimed at enhancing the integration of assistive technologies in smart homes for prefrail older adults. Key insights emerged from the co-design workshop, revealing critical factors influencing technology adoption, such as usability, privacy, and personalized learning preferences. These findings underscored the importance of user-centered design in addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by older adults and their caregivers. Additionally, the project produced a middleware prototype that seamlessly integrates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, facilitating health management and improving the quality of life for older adults. By engaging both residents and experts throughout the project, the team ensured that our solution is adaptable and relevant, providing a robust foundation for future research and development in user-centered technology design. Ultimately, the project not only advanced our understanding of assistive technology integration but also fostered a collaborative approach, empowering older adults to maintain independence and enhancing their overall wellbeing. Deliverables: D1: Survey report on the current state of the art of assistive technologies and their limitations, and the designed RRI process. D2: Software requirements specifications (SRS) of the (WISE-WARE) middleware D3: Source codes and documentation of the proof-of-concept implementation of the middleware and a prototype data analytics application D4-A: Journal article to be submitted to IEEE Access D4-B: Final Presentation that contains the summary of these contributions that were presented at an EMERGENCE consortium event. Additionally, the project's GitHub website includes the following: - WISE-WARE PoC: [Docker compose file] and [Shell scripts] - WISE WARE PoC [architecture] and [Installation and Configuration] - WISE-WARE PoC: [Installation Video] - Data Analytics PoC: [Kafka Connectors & Stream] and [Telegraf & Grafana] - Data Analytics PoC [documentation] - Workshop materials: o A3: CIREI Welcome slides and Icebreaker activity o A4: Brainstorming Activity prompt cards o A5: Brainstorming facilitator guide o A6: Affinity mapping facilitator guide o A7: Voting activity reference document o A8: Quantitative survey o A9: Semi-structured interview guide and sheet The CIREI project has directly influenced healthcare technologies for frailty through its innovative CIREI framework and WISE-WARE middleware PoC. The framework integrates assistive technologies in smart homes, addressing usability, privacy, and personalized learning. The WISE-WARE PoC enables seamless integration of commercial devices, encouraging a rethink of secure, adaptable smart home hubs. High-quality materials, including detailed workshop tools and documentation, were produced, enhancing co-designed methodologies. Insights from the co-design workshops highlighted the importance of user-centered design, fostering technology adoption for older adults, and promoting independent living with improved health management solutions. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CIREI - Challenges of Integrating Robots with Embodied Intelligence in the Homes of Older People Living with Frailty: Towards a Smart Middleware Architecture |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has significantly enhanced our research by providing access to a diverse community of experts and stakeholders. This has broadened our understanding of real-world challenges and opportunities in deploying robotics. The network's collaborative environment enabled us to refine our approach to ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and practical applications. By sharing insights and learning from others' experiences, we have strengthened our ability to anticipate and address potential barriers, accelerating the transition of our assistive technology/robotics solutions from lab to real-world settings. The knowledge gained has been invaluable in shaping our deployment strategies and ensuring societal relevance" "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has provided invaluable benefits to my research and professional growth. It allowed me to collaborate with a diverse group of experts, gaining insights into cutting-edge methodologies and best practices for accelerating robotic deployment. The network significantly expanded my connections within both academia and industry, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, the exposure to real-world challenges and solutions deepened my understanding of how to effectively bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical application, making my work more impactful and aligned with the needs of end users" "The EMERGENCE network has given the opportunity to forge new collaborations with a diverse group of researchers, experts and industry professionals. Network events have both showcased cutting-edge research and provided workshop activities that have helped me consider new approaches to planning and conducting my research. The insights gained have proven useful in shaping wider research projects through further identifying relevant and meaningful questions to ask at differing TRL stages and provided inspiration in choosing effective methods to pursue these" |
| Collaborator Contribution | The CIREI project was funded under the better management research theme of the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/07/2024. The CIREI project was a pioneering initiative aimed at improving the lives of people living with frailty through technology. Despite the availability of many smart devices, such as robotic helpers and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, their full potential to create supportive home environments has not been fully realized. The project introduced a smart middleware called WISE-WARE, which effectively connects and integrates various off-the-shelf assistive devices. One of the standout features of CIREI was its collaborative approach. The project involved a diverse group of stakeholders, including technology developers, healthcare professionals, and the very people who would use these technologies. By working together, we ensured that the WISE-WARE middleware was not only technically sound but also met the real needs and preferences of the end-users. This approach sets a new benchmark for creating user-centered healthcare technologies, emphasizing the importance of direct input from those who stand to benefit. During the project, a prototype application was developed that utilised data analytics to monitor signs of frailty from various connected devices. This allows caregivers to adjust their support based on real-time information, making care more personalized and responsive. For instance, if a device detects that a resident is having difficulty with daily activities, the system can alert caregivers or suggest interventions tailored to the individual's needs. The findings from the CIREI project are also crucial for shaping policies and best practices in the field of assistive technology. By identifying the barriers and facilitators to technology adoption, the project provides valuable insights that can enhance solutions for the aging population. In summary, the CIREI project took a significant step toward creating 'smart and assistive' homes for individuals with frailty. By integrating various assistive devices and leveraging data to inform care, the project not only showcases the potential for improved daily support but also lays the groundwork for future innovations in healthcare technology. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration in technology development, ensuring that solutions are both effective and user-friendly. Project Objectives: Investigate the current state of-the-art of robotics and assistive technologies' limitations and barriers to adoption. Define the functional and non-functional specifications, or the architectural characteristics, of the middleware (WISE-WARE) Develop a proof-of-concept middleware (WISE-WARE), and a simple data analytics application to demonstrate its capabilities Project Activities: The CIREI project involved a series of structured activities aimed at developing a smart middleware solution for individuals living with frailty. Key activities included a co-design workshop (30 participants) in collaboration with Astraline, informed by an extensive literature review of over 900 sources. The workshop included various bespoke activities such as brainstorming, affinity mapping, and semi-structured interviews to help gather insights, leading to the creation of the CIREI model, which identifies key barriers to adopting smart technologies. Additionally, two ethics workshops ensured adherence to ethical research practiceswere conducted before and after the workshop. The project culminated in the development of WISE-WARE, a proof-of-concept middleware capable of integrating various off-the-shelf devices and processing their data streams. A PoC application was also created to demonstrate WISE-WARE's capabilities in residential settings. Thorough tests of WISE-WARE were conducted in the robotics labs at both Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Nottingham (CoBot Maker), and all design decisions and results were meticulously documented. This collaborative effort engaged a diverse range of participants and stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enhancing daily support for individuals living with frailty. Quotes from the project team: "The project thrived due to a focus on open standards and technologies, enabling quick integration and rapid development of proof of concepts. The training process inspired a recruited RA to pursue a research career, leading her to apply for a funded MPhil supported by the Royal Marsden Trust. Diverse perspectives from team members enriched our experiences, while RRI meetings deepened our understanding of research requirements for creating accessible products. Collaborative support from UoN and SHU facilitated effective testing in CoBot Maker and SIT labs, enhancing the overall project outcomes and fostering a strong partnership among participants." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from the following disciplines: Computer Science; Mental Health and Digital Technology; Cybersecurity and Privacy; Human-Computer Interaction across the following institutions: Sheffield Hallam University, King's College London, Sheffield University and the University of Nottingham. The team also draws on expertise from health and social care professionals and TEC specialists from Darnall Wellbeing and Astraline. The project successfully developed the CIREI framework, a comprehensive model aimed at enhancing the integration of assistive technologies in smart homes for prefrail older adults. Key insights emerged from the co-design workshop, revealing critical factors influencing technology adoption, such as usability, privacy, and personalized learning preferences. These findings underscored the importance of user-centered design in addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by older adults and their caregivers. Additionally, the project produced a middleware prototype that seamlessly integrates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, facilitating health management and improving the quality of life for older adults. By engaging both residents and experts throughout the project, the team ensured that our solution is adaptable and relevant, providing a robust foundation for future research and development in user-centered technology design. Ultimately, the project not only advanced our understanding of assistive technology integration but also fostered a collaborative approach, empowering older adults to maintain independence and enhancing their overall wellbeing. Deliverables: D1: Survey report on the current state of the art of assistive technologies and their limitations, and the designed RRI process. D2: Software requirements specifications (SRS) of the (WISE-WARE) middleware D3: Source codes and documentation of the proof-of-concept implementation of the middleware and a prototype data analytics application D4-A: Journal article to be submitted to IEEE Access D4-B: Final Presentation that contains the summary of these contributions that were presented at an EMERGENCE consortium event. Additionally, the project's GitHub website includes the following: - WISE-WARE PoC: [Docker compose file] and [Shell scripts] - WISE WARE PoC [architecture] and [Installation and Configuration] - WISE-WARE PoC: [Installation Video] - Data Analytics PoC: [Kafka Connectors & Stream] and [Telegraf & Grafana] - Data Analytics PoC [documentation] - Workshop materials: o A3: CIREI Welcome slides and Icebreaker activity o A4: Brainstorming Activity prompt cards o A5: Brainstorming facilitator guide o A6: Affinity mapping facilitator guide o A7: Voting activity reference document o A8: Quantitative survey o A9: Semi-structured interview guide and sheet The CIREI project has directly influenced healthcare technologies for frailty through its innovative CIREI framework and WISE-WARE middleware PoC. The framework integrates assistive technologies in smart homes, addressing usability, privacy, and personalized learning. The WISE-WARE PoC enables seamless integration of commercial devices, encouraging a rethink of secure, adaptable smart home hubs. High-quality materials, including detailed workshop tools and documentation, were produced, enhancing co-designed methodologies. Insights from the co-design workshops highlighted the importance of user-centered design, fostering technology adoption for older adults, and promoting independent living with improved health management solutions. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CPD for Occupational Therapy MSc Programme |
| Organisation | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration stemmed from the co-design of continuous professional development (CPD) for the care workforce carried out at the Robotarium as part of the EMERGENCE network. Dragone started to collaborate with the Healthcare Technologies Research Group (HTRG) at Edinburgh Napier University, led by occupational therapist Professor Alison Porter-Armstrong. One aim of which is to transform health technology learning and teaching to support, prepare and enable colleagues in practice, including allied health professional students at the university, to respond. This has led to the development of the first collaborative partnership in Scotland between the HTRG and the UK National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Occupational therapists Dr Fiona Maclean, Dr Ciara Ryan and Ashleigh Gray from Edinburgh Napier University, have come together with Dr Dragone and Dr MacLeod, to explore how and in what way robotic technology can be translated from the laboratory and integrated with and to occupational therapy and physiotherapy practice. Our research team has co-designed the training activity, delivered training including hands-on exercises in the use of various robotic technology in our laboratory, and assisted the team at Napier in integrating the technology as part of their teaching. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team from Napier University have led a survey paper on the use of robotics in rehabilitation practice, co-designed the training conducted at the National Robotarium and supervised the use of a telepresence robot in their own SHELTER testbed. |
| Impact | In February 2024, 46 occupational therapy and physiotherapy second-year MSc (pre reg) students attended an immersive workshop to learn about and gain training in various robotic technologies at the National Robotarium. Followed the training, the team has conducted a user study involving 13 OT students (10 females, 3 males) testing different forms of technology, including tele-presence robotics and 3D mapping, to complete a case study environmental home assessment . The training has been repeated in March 2025 with a new cohort of students. All participants completed three risk assessment simulations (respectively in person; using a tele-presence robot or a 3D virtual tour) in the SHELTER testbed in Napier. The activity is covered by ethics to collect data using multiple methods. These include time measurements, observational notes, recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis, individual questionnaires, to rate ease of use (System Usability Scale - USUS) , usefulness, and perceived safety for each method, and a post simulation focus group discussion. The team has published a joint paper on the OT News magazine[1] and submitted a proposal for a research project exploring the use of robotics for rehabilitation with people living with dementia to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, which has been funded. The project started in January 2025 and will end in December 2026. The team is working at a joint journal paper reporting the findings from the two training sessions at Napier University. [1] Paving the way forward, C. Ryan, F. MacLean, A. Porter-Armstrong, M. Dragone, S. MacLeod, OTNews, May 2024 |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | CoRDial - Counterfactual Reasoning for Robotic Dialogue |
| Organisation | Robert Gordon University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of mutli-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the indentification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from project team: "The project provided valuable insight into older adults and carers perceptions of care robots. There was less scepticism than perhaps anticipated by the research team, and we were at times surprised by participants' positive views and suggestions for how they could see robots being deployed in a care (home or institutional) setting. The next logical step would be to test out some of our learning in a real-world setting; to that end we have started discussion with NHS clinical and R&I colleagues about how this might be progressed. " |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended an online co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at an online consortium wide event held by the EMERGENCE network. The project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty challenge funding call and completed on 31/12/2024. For care robots to be effective, they must interact meaningfully with individuals. Known as human-robot interaction, this involves understanding and responding to user needs. The project goal was to improve this interaction by enabling the robot to reason ('what-if', 'why not?') using natural language generation underpinned by counterfactual reasoning. This approach helps the robot consider alternate scenarios, fostering safer, more personalised assistance. During seven co-design workshops, the team worked with 25 participants (older adults and caregivers) from both urban and remote locations, including island communities. Using a simulator that replicated a robot interacting with a person, the team co-created tasks and iterated the robot's language. Adopting counterfactual reasoning allowed the robot to reflect on risky or unsuccessful situations and illustrate how altering specific factors could lead to different, "better" outcomes. Project Objectives: Conduct Co-design Activities with Older Adults Develop an Interactive Robot Simulation Environment Use a Large Language Model as a natural interface for Counterfactual explanation-driven robot-human dialogue Project activities: During the project, the team conducted seven workshops to directly engage with older adults (aged 65 and above) and caregivers, ensuring representation across diverse demographics: Urban Engagement: Two workshops in Aberdeen focused on the needs and preferences of older adults living in urban areas. These face-to-face workshops explored participants' perceptions of care robots and informed the human-robot interactions that were the focus for the rest of the study. 3 participants Rural and Remote Engagement: Two workshops in the Orkney Islands engaged older adults and caregivers from remote-rural areas, offering insights into the challenges faced in these locations. These face-to-face workshops explored participants perceptions of the care robots, contextualised conversation and gathered feedback from the older adult perspective and the caregivers perspective to inform refinement for future workshops. Workshop 1: 7 participants Workshop 2: 5 participants Respite Care: A workshop in North Berwick gathered input from older adults in a respite care environment, providing valuable perspectives from care recipients and their partners on care robots, contextualised conversation and gathered feedback to inform refinement. Online Workshops: Two virtual workshops were conducted: • November 2024: Focused on showcasing the enhanced conversational framework and collecting feedback for refinement. • January 2025: Explored additional tasks for the conversational agent and discussed user expectations. This final workshop was held remotely (MS Teams) and included participants from the previous workshops held in Aberdeen and Orkney. The team initially updated them with what had been done with the feedback they had previously provided and then held an interactive group discussion to explore the participants thoughts on the range of scenarios that need to be considered when taking this forward. The team asked them to consider what other activities should an ideal care robot be able to support an older adult with. These activities also benefited from the collaboration of RGU Orkney and Leuchie House, who supported workshop facilitation in remote and respite care settings. Quotes from project team: "Choosing a multi-agent framework with Langchain was a key success, providing a flexible and modular approach to system development. This architecture allows seamless integration of new components without major changes to existing ones, making the framework scalable and adaptable." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with experience in intelligent systems, large-language models, conversational AI, counterfactual explanations frailty and co-design methodology. This project successfully developed a multi-agent conversational framework designed to enhance human-robot interactions in elder care settings. Through seven co-design workshops with older adults and care workers in urban, rural, and respite care environments, the team gathered valuable insights into user needs, leading to key refinements in the approach. The main findings from the workshop were around language/vocabulary, personalisation, data protection and safety. For robot simulation, the team integrated our multi-agent framework into Legent, an opensource robot simulation platform that enables users to interact with the robot via a chat interface. The team replaced its existing NLP module with the framework, refining it iteratively through workshop feedback. The agent is capable of tasks such as identifying hazards, resolving identity ambiguities, and requesting clarifications from users when necessary. Additionally, the team introduced a dashboard for managing patient personas, allowing the robot to tailor conversations. For instance, if a user is colourblind, the robot adjusts its explanations, using size or surrounding objects rather than colour to describe items. The framework, built using OpenAI services and Langchain, features a routing manager based on prototypical networks that dynamically assigns user queries to the most relevant task agent. These advancements contribute to making conversational AI more adaptive, transparent, and user-centered, enhancing its effectiveness in elder care settings. Deliverables Co-Design Activities Robot-Simulation Environment Journal Paper |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Continuing Professional Development ecosystems: wearable robotics for frailty |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of EMERGENCE allowed me to pursue interdisciplinary research, extended my professional network and identified effective methodologies for gathering stakeholder feedback on new robotic devices like our wearable device. This feedback is vital to accelerate the use of robots in the real world. The three-way learning and innovation ecosystem proved particularly useful as it showed the importance of including the feedback of professionals working with end users, additionally to the end users. Blackwood staff and residents were pivotal in identifying potential issues in the deployment of our wearable device. Physicians in the project and those working for the University of Aberdeen also contributed to the knowledge generated during the project" "My research, although coming from a social science starting point, relies entirely on co-producing knowledge with technical and lay partners. EMERGENCE has been an invaluable bridge for me that has helped me strengthen existing collaborative relationships and create a small number of new relationships that I hope will stretch into the next five to ten years. Intellectually it's given me the space to test socio-technical theories of empowerment (via capabilities) and research infrastructure (innovation eco-systems). I'm hoping the work now of collaboratively writing papers on this project and previous projects will help me contribute some genuinely useful perspectives to social robotics, and more broadly to responsible innovation. Related, and in addition to the above points, I've just been given internal funding at UCL to create a new Centre for Responsible Innovation. My EMERGENCE experience has been invaluable in building out an intellectual agenda for this centre. That includes perspectives on digital technology deployment: not so much accelerating deployment, but thinking carefully about the partnerships and frameworks we need to direct and steer deployment so that they meet the needs of people in the real world. I have every intention of working with EMERGENCE partners to progress this thinking and doing" |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. Cian O'Donovan (UCL) gave a keynote talk at the CHART Summer School titled "Future care workforce skills for the integration of healthcare robotics" The project was funded under the self-management and better management research themes on the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/12/2024. Due to limited deployment of robotics designed to assist people living with frailty, there is insufficient knowledge about appropriate, safe and trustworthy use amongst end-users and healthcare staff and within care organisations. This project produced technical and social findings that contribute to closing this gap in knowledge of how to care for, and with, people the right way with robots. The project addressed three gaps, first centring allied health care professionals (AHPs) in our research. This is important because introducing robotic technology potentially makes care practices more demanding. For instance, by creating new responsibilities for ensuring robotic safety - a priority-issue we focussed on. Second, the project created a responsible innovation ecosystem to further develop a wearable robot - designed to assist rehabilitation from stroke. The ecosystem established working-relations and common-cause between a stakeholder group of robotics engineers, AHPs and their employer, Blackwood Homes. Engineers found this useful because by bringing together multiple forms of expertise, including experience of living with frailty, it generated immediate insights on their robot design, implemented between workshops. Other benefits included efficient ethics protocol design (clinical experts were embedded on the team), rapid recruitment through Blackwood Homes, and the ability to perform real-time sociotechnical analysis during workshops. The innovation ecosystem helped the team align the needs and capabilities of staff and service users with ongoing design - shifting the evaluation of robots in the real world from binary forms of user-acceptance, to integrated socio-technical alignment. Important because this distributes questions of responsibility to stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem - responsibilities then don't simply trickle down and add more work to already busy AHPs. Third, providing coherence across the project, each of the project workshops focussed on aspects of safety training - in the final session the team integrated findings into existing curricula for student AHPs, focussing on issues of manual handling. Amongst a pro-technology, British, female participant cohort, the project found strong interest in putting prospective training interventions to the test. Project Objectives: Analyse the state-of-the-art of assistive and rehabilitation robotics and their presence in continued professional development curricula and policy. Develop a three-way learning and innovation ecosystem - a three way collaborative research infrastructure established between a stakeholder group of robotics developers, AHPs and service users. Deliver a CPD curriculum for Dr Kumar's AHPs UWE cohort and a stakeholder approved redesign of the wearable device for the upper limb Project Activities: Knowledge production in the project was driven through the following workshop activities: COD and SR conducted two online focus groups in January 2024, speaking to a total of eight staff members at Blackwood Homes via Teams to elaborate their career pathways. They were interested in how participants got to their current positions and how they had (or had not) learned to use digital technology and other equipment along the way. Focus-groups findings were used to inform the method design at two Robotarium workshops (Feb-2024 and March-2024). The full research team ran half-day sessions with participants from Blackwood Homes (staff, customers and residents). Participants were joined by a small number of roboticists from the Robotarium who were not part of the project team. The aim of the workshops was to introduce staff and service users to robotic technologies to identify 1) capabilities valued by participants needed for care practices that included robots 2) learning preferences and 3) technological improvements required of the wearable robot designed by EG's team. PK led a final workshop at UWE Bristol in November 2024 to test curricula/learning preferences with nine trainee care professionals at the start of their career. EG presented the wearable robot to a group of 25 therapists at various stages of their career at Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen. The key takeaway messages are that i) the possible uses extend well beyond stroke rehabilitation, and future adoption within the NHS might benefit from a more wide-ranging scope; ii) ensuring the device is easy to use for those with lower levels of cognition or simply less experience with technology will be key to acceptance. This includes all interfaces, mechanical (such as donning and doffing) or electronic (such as setting up the device for a particular user) Quotes from project team: "The spirit and enthusiasm of all members of the team was outstanding. I can't think of a transdisciplinary project I've been involved in where technical, social and non-academic partners collaborated on such an equal footing. Our fortnightly calls during the first third of the project helped create and sustain a trusting atmosphere, and by front loading the project with interactive online and then real-world workshops, we created early momentum that kept us going. Interventions and support from EMERGENCE were invaluable, including a useful discussion on ethics at the annual event. Centring the project around a real robotic system under development at Aberdeen provided the project with important and urgent real world interdisciplinary questions to test." "The project partners were able to work together in a collaborative and integrated manner throughout the project. The workshops were exceptionally well-organized, reflecting the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Every member contributed significantly to ensuring a meaningful and engaging experience for the participants. Additionally, great care was taken to gather detailed and constructive feedback, which proved invaluable in refining and improving the wearable device to better meet the needs and expectations of its users." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Social Sciences, Robotics, Neuro-physiotherapy and Care policy from UCL, University of Aberdeen, UWE Bristol. The project also draws on expertise from project partners Blackwood Homes and Care. Insights Participants were using heuristics to link talking about robot to something they already knew about, e.g. telepresence robot likened to an iPad, lycra sleeve likened to a support stocking (Robotarium workshop 2). This points to how to deliver training, start with something the people being trained are familiar with using in their role and then move on to the new similar in some ways technology. Responsible innovation eco-systems can include capabilities evaluation. This helps innovation evaluators move from narrow acceptance to situated capability building For Blackwood Homes, the research provided confirmation that learning in the flow of work is preferred method from staff allows us to continue to move away from f2f training removed from work contexts. The best way of having these conversations is not yet codified and standardised. It takes constant reflection amongst the ecosystem members. In terms of education and research: the third workshop at UWE-Bristol made us ask are we setting up the classroom right? We haven't yet learned how to do this and we're missing things. This is exacerbated when using robots. One member of the team said It feels like conducing a seance - are you with us, are you there With a robot this introduces an extra level ambiguity and uncertainty. Our insight is that just because you can be 'in the room' doesn't really mean you can conduct quality observation and research. Deliverables Actionable reports taken forward by participants and ecosystem members Capabilities framework The research has had a direct influence on how the wearable device is used with participants and users due to the new exclusion criteria identified for ethics and the new set of instructions for donning that have been improved following the feedback received during workshop two at the Robotarium. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Continuing Professional Development ecosystems: wearable robotics for frailty |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of EMERGENCE allowed me to pursue interdisciplinary research, extended my professional network and identified effective methodologies for gathering stakeholder feedback on new robotic devices like our wearable device. This feedback is vital to accelerate the use of robots in the real world. The three-way learning and innovation ecosystem proved particularly useful as it showed the importance of including the feedback of professionals working with end users, additionally to the end users. Blackwood staff and residents were pivotal in identifying potential issues in the deployment of our wearable device. Physicians in the project and those working for the University of Aberdeen also contributed to the knowledge generated during the project" "My research, although coming from a social science starting point, relies entirely on co-producing knowledge with technical and lay partners. EMERGENCE has been an invaluable bridge for me that has helped me strengthen existing collaborative relationships and create a small number of new relationships that I hope will stretch into the next five to ten years. Intellectually it's given me the space to test socio-technical theories of empowerment (via capabilities) and research infrastructure (innovation eco-systems). I'm hoping the work now of collaboratively writing papers on this project and previous projects will help me contribute some genuinely useful perspectives to social robotics, and more broadly to responsible innovation. Related, and in addition to the above points, I've just been given internal funding at UCL to create a new Centre for Responsible Innovation. My EMERGENCE experience has been invaluable in building out an intellectual agenda for this centre. That includes perspectives on digital technology deployment: not so much accelerating deployment, but thinking carefully about the partnerships and frameworks we need to direct and steer deployment so that they meet the needs of people in the real world. I have every intention of working with EMERGENCE partners to progress this thinking and doing" |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. Cian O'Donovan (UCL) gave a keynote talk at the CHART Summer School titled "Future care workforce skills for the integration of healthcare robotics" The project was funded under the self-management and better management research themes on the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/12/2024. Due to limited deployment of robotics designed to assist people living with frailty, there is insufficient knowledge about appropriate, safe and trustworthy use amongst end-users and healthcare staff and within care organisations. This project produced technical and social findings that contribute to closing this gap in knowledge of how to care for, and with, people the right way with robots. The project addressed three gaps, first centring allied health care professionals (AHPs) in our research. This is important because introducing robotic technology potentially makes care practices more demanding. For instance, by creating new responsibilities for ensuring robotic safety - a priority-issue we focussed on. Second, the project created a responsible innovation ecosystem to further develop a wearable robot - designed to assist rehabilitation from stroke. The ecosystem established working-relations and common-cause between a stakeholder group of robotics engineers, AHPs and their employer, Blackwood Homes. Engineers found this useful because by bringing together multiple forms of expertise, including experience of living with frailty, it generated immediate insights on their robot design, implemented between workshops. Other benefits included efficient ethics protocol design (clinical experts were embedded on the team), rapid recruitment through Blackwood Homes, and the ability to perform real-time sociotechnical analysis during workshops. The innovation ecosystem helped the team align the needs and capabilities of staff and service users with ongoing design - shifting the evaluation of robots in the real world from binary forms of user-acceptance, to integrated socio-technical alignment. Important because this distributes questions of responsibility to stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem - responsibilities then don't simply trickle down and add more work to already busy AHPs. Third, providing coherence across the project, each of the project workshops focussed on aspects of safety training - in the final session the team integrated findings into existing curricula for student AHPs, focussing on issues of manual handling. Amongst a pro-technology, British, female participant cohort, the project found strong interest in putting prospective training interventions to the test. Project Objectives: Analyse the state-of-the-art of assistive and rehabilitation robotics and their presence in continued professional development curricula and policy. Develop a three-way learning and innovation ecosystem - a three way collaborative research infrastructure established between a stakeholder group of robotics developers, AHPs and service users. Deliver a CPD curriculum for Dr Kumar's AHPs UWE cohort and a stakeholder approved redesign of the wearable device for the upper limb Project Activities: Knowledge production in the project was driven through the following workshop activities: COD and SR conducted two online focus groups in January 2024, speaking to a total of eight staff members at Blackwood Homes via Teams to elaborate their career pathways. They were interested in how participants got to their current positions and how they had (or had not) learned to use digital technology and other equipment along the way. Focus-groups findings were used to inform the method design at two Robotarium workshops (Feb-2024 and March-2024). The full research team ran half-day sessions with participants from Blackwood Homes (staff, customers and residents). Participants were joined by a small number of roboticists from the Robotarium who were not part of the project team. The aim of the workshops was to introduce staff and service users to robotic technologies to identify 1) capabilities valued by participants needed for care practices that included robots 2) learning preferences and 3) technological improvements required of the wearable robot designed by EG's team. PK led a final workshop at UWE Bristol in November 2024 to test curricula/learning preferences with nine trainee care professionals at the start of their career. EG presented the wearable robot to a group of 25 therapists at various stages of their career at Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen. The key takeaway messages are that i) the possible uses extend well beyond stroke rehabilitation, and future adoption within the NHS might benefit from a more wide-ranging scope; ii) ensuring the device is easy to use for those with lower levels of cognition or simply less experience with technology will be key to acceptance. This includes all interfaces, mechanical (such as donning and doffing) or electronic (such as setting up the device for a particular user) Quotes from project team: "The spirit and enthusiasm of all members of the team was outstanding. I can't think of a transdisciplinary project I've been involved in where technical, social and non-academic partners collaborated on such an equal footing. Our fortnightly calls during the first third of the project helped create and sustain a trusting atmosphere, and by front loading the project with interactive online and then real-world workshops, we created early momentum that kept us going. Interventions and support from EMERGENCE were invaluable, including a useful discussion on ethics at the annual event. Centring the project around a real robotic system under development at Aberdeen provided the project with important and urgent real world interdisciplinary questions to test." "The project partners were able to work together in a collaborative and integrated manner throughout the project. The workshops were exceptionally well-organized, reflecting the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Every member contributed significantly to ensuring a meaningful and engaging experience for the participants. Additionally, great care was taken to gather detailed and constructive feedback, which proved invaluable in refining and improving the wearable device to better meet the needs and expectations of its users." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Social Sciences, Robotics, Neuro-physiotherapy and Care policy from UCL, University of Aberdeen, UWE Bristol. The project also draws on expertise from project partners Blackwood Homes and Care. Insights Participants were using heuristics to link talking about robot to something they already knew about, e.g. telepresence robot likened to an iPad, lycra sleeve likened to a support stocking (Robotarium workshop 2). This points to how to deliver training, start with something the people being trained are familiar with using in their role and then move on to the new similar in some ways technology. Responsible innovation eco-systems can include capabilities evaluation. This helps innovation evaluators move from narrow acceptance to situated capability building For Blackwood Homes, the research provided confirmation that learning in the flow of work is preferred method from staff allows us to continue to move away from f2f training removed from work contexts. The best way of having these conversations is not yet codified and standardised. It takes constant reflection amongst the ecosystem members. In terms of education and research: the third workshop at UWE-Bristol made us ask are we setting up the classroom right? We haven't yet learned how to do this and we're missing things. This is exacerbated when using robots. One member of the team said It feels like conducing a seance - are you with us, are you there With a robot this introduces an extra level ambiguity and uncertainty. Our insight is that just because you can be 'in the room' doesn't really mean you can conduct quality observation and research. Deliverables Actionable reports taken forward by participants and ecosystem members Capabilities framework The research has had a direct influence on how the wearable device is used with participants and users due to the new exclusion criteria identified for ethics and the new set of instructions for donning that have been improved following the feedback received during workshop two at the Robotarium. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Continuing Professional Development ecosystems: wearable robotics for frailty |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "Being part of EMERGENCE allowed me to pursue interdisciplinary research, extended my professional network and identified effective methodologies for gathering stakeholder feedback on new robotic devices like our wearable device. This feedback is vital to accelerate the use of robots in the real world. The three-way learning and innovation ecosystem proved particularly useful as it showed the importance of including the feedback of professionals working with end users, additionally to the end users. Blackwood staff and residents were pivotal in identifying potential issues in the deployment of our wearable device. Physicians in the project and those working for the University of Aberdeen also contributed to the knowledge generated during the project" "My research, although coming from a social science starting point, relies entirely on co-producing knowledge with technical and lay partners. EMERGENCE has been an invaluable bridge for me that has helped me strengthen existing collaborative relationships and create a small number of new relationships that I hope will stretch into the next five to ten years. Intellectually it's given me the space to test socio-technical theories of empowerment (via capabilities) and research infrastructure (innovation eco-systems). I'm hoping the work now of collaboratively writing papers on this project and previous projects will help me contribute some genuinely useful perspectives to social robotics, and more broadly to responsible innovation. Related, and in addition to the above points, I've just been given internal funding at UCL to create a new Centre for Responsible Innovation. My EMERGENCE experience has been invaluable in building out an intellectual agenda for this centre. That includes perspectives on digital technology deployment: not so much accelerating deployment, but thinking carefully about the partnerships and frameworks we need to direct and steer deployment so that they meet the needs of people in the real world. I have every intention of working with EMERGENCE partners to progress this thinking and doing" |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. Cian O'Donovan (UCL) gave a keynote talk at the CHART Summer School titled "Future care workforce skills for the integration of healthcare robotics" The project was funded under the self-management and better management research themes on the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call and completed on 31/12/2024. Due to limited deployment of robotics designed to assist people living with frailty, there is insufficient knowledge about appropriate, safe and trustworthy use amongst end-users and healthcare staff and within care organisations. This project produced technical and social findings that contribute to closing this gap in knowledge of how to care for, and with, people the right way with robots. The project addressed three gaps, first centring allied health care professionals (AHPs) in our research. This is important because introducing robotic technology potentially makes care practices more demanding. For instance, by creating new responsibilities for ensuring robotic safety - a priority-issue we focussed on. Second, the project created a responsible innovation ecosystem to further develop a wearable robot - designed to assist rehabilitation from stroke. The ecosystem established working-relations and common-cause between a stakeholder group of robotics engineers, AHPs and their employer, Blackwood Homes. Engineers found this useful because by bringing together multiple forms of expertise, including experience of living with frailty, it generated immediate insights on their robot design, implemented between workshops. Other benefits included efficient ethics protocol design (clinical experts were embedded on the team), rapid recruitment through Blackwood Homes, and the ability to perform real-time sociotechnical analysis during workshops. The innovation ecosystem helped the team align the needs and capabilities of staff and service users with ongoing design - shifting the evaluation of robots in the real world from binary forms of user-acceptance, to integrated socio-technical alignment. Important because this distributes questions of responsibility to stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem - responsibilities then don't simply trickle down and add more work to already busy AHPs. Third, providing coherence across the project, each of the project workshops focussed on aspects of safety training - in the final session the team integrated findings into existing curricula for student AHPs, focussing on issues of manual handling. Amongst a pro-technology, British, female participant cohort, the project found strong interest in putting prospective training interventions to the test. Project Objectives: Analyse the state-of-the-art of assistive and rehabilitation robotics and their presence in continued professional development curricula and policy. Develop a three-way learning and innovation ecosystem - a three way collaborative research infrastructure established between a stakeholder group of robotics developers, AHPs and service users. Deliver a CPD curriculum for Dr Kumar's AHPs UWE cohort and a stakeholder approved redesign of the wearable device for the upper limb Project Activities: Knowledge production in the project was driven through the following workshop activities: COD and SR conducted two online focus groups in January 2024, speaking to a total of eight staff members at Blackwood Homes via Teams to elaborate their career pathways. They were interested in how participants got to their current positions and how they had (or had not) learned to use digital technology and other equipment along the way. Focus-groups findings were used to inform the method design at two Robotarium workshops (Feb-2024 and March-2024). The full research team ran half-day sessions with participants from Blackwood Homes (staff, customers and residents). Participants were joined by a small number of roboticists from the Robotarium who were not part of the project team. The aim of the workshops was to introduce staff and service users to robotic technologies to identify 1) capabilities valued by participants needed for care practices that included robots 2) learning preferences and 3) technological improvements required of the wearable robot designed by EG's team. PK led a final workshop at UWE Bristol in November 2024 to test curricula/learning preferences with nine trainee care professionals at the start of their career. EG presented the wearable robot to a group of 25 therapists at various stages of their career at Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen. The key takeaway messages are that i) the possible uses extend well beyond stroke rehabilitation, and future adoption within the NHS might benefit from a more wide-ranging scope; ii) ensuring the device is easy to use for those with lower levels of cognition or simply less experience with technology will be key to acceptance. This includes all interfaces, mechanical (such as donning and doffing) or electronic (such as setting up the device for a particular user) Quotes from project team: "The spirit and enthusiasm of all members of the team was outstanding. I can't think of a transdisciplinary project I've been involved in where technical, social and non-academic partners collaborated on such an equal footing. Our fortnightly calls during the first third of the project helped create and sustain a trusting atmosphere, and by front loading the project with interactive online and then real-world workshops, we created early momentum that kept us going. Interventions and support from EMERGENCE were invaluable, including a useful discussion on ethics at the annual event. Centring the project around a real robotic system under development at Aberdeen provided the project with important and urgent real world interdisciplinary questions to test." "The project partners were able to work together in a collaborative and integrated manner throughout the project. The workshops were exceptionally well-organized, reflecting the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Every member contributed significantly to ensuring a meaningful and engaging experience for the participants. Additionally, great care was taken to gather detailed and constructive feedback, which proved invaluable in refining and improving the wearable device to better meet the needs and expectations of its users." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Social Sciences, Robotics, Neuro-physiotherapy and Care policy from UCL, University of Aberdeen, UWE Bristol. The project also draws on expertise from project partners Blackwood Homes and Care. Insights Participants were using heuristics to link talking about robot to something they already knew about, e.g. telepresence robot likened to an iPad, lycra sleeve likened to a support stocking (Robotarium workshop 2). This points to how to deliver training, start with something the people being trained are familiar with using in their role and then move on to the new similar in some ways technology. Responsible innovation eco-systems can include capabilities evaluation. This helps innovation evaluators move from narrow acceptance to situated capability building For Blackwood Homes, the research provided confirmation that learning in the flow of work is preferred method from staff allows us to continue to move away from f2f training removed from work contexts. The best way of having these conversations is not yet codified and standardised. It takes constant reflection amongst the ecosystem members. In terms of education and research: the third workshop at UWE-Bristol made us ask are we setting up the classroom right? We haven't yet learned how to do this and we're missing things. This is exacerbated when using robots. One member of the team said It feels like conducing a seance - are you with us, are you there With a robot this introduces an extra level ambiguity and uncertainty. Our insight is that just because you can be 'in the room' doesn't really mean you can conduct quality observation and research. Deliverables Actionable reports taken forward by participants and ecosystem members Capabilities framework The research has had a direct influence on how the wearable device is used with participants and users due to the new exclusion criteria identified for ethics and the new set of instructions for donning that have been improved following the feedback received during workshop two at the Robotarium. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | DHCIC |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Department | Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022) |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | EPSRC Healthcare Technologies Network+ Rehab Technologies Network |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Participation in the summer school enabled linking of the two EPSRC Healthcare Technologies network+ projects |
| Collaborator Contribution | The funding provided resources for an additional two external people to participate in the Emergence Summer School and learn about the findings of the Emergence research and remit. |
| Impact | Planning and ideas for future joint events and projects. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Embedding Resilience |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of mutli-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has been a significant experience for me. It deepened my understanding of the latest advancements in robotics and assistive technology, particularly in healthcare applications. My initial experience was during EMERGENCE summer school where I learnt about the potential of these technologies in healthcare, and this project provided me with the opportunity to apply these insights in real-world context. " "being part of the EMERGENCE network has helped in building connections with experts and researchers who share an interest in bringing robotics into healthcare. These connections have inspired new ideas for future projects and research on using assistive technologies in clinical practice. " "EMERGENCE has enabled me to help create a space where technologists and public come together to make sure that emerging digital technologies are meeting the needs of people in context. Specifically in a sector of society that is often neglected by innovators and innovation policy. Aside from the primary knowledge generated, the work done here will provide important case studies in my work contributing to national and internation innovation policy, and training future technologists in responsible innovation." |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended an online co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at an online consortium wide event held by the EMERGENCE network. This project completed on 31/01/2025. The project research questions were: How do care home staff and residents think digital technologies contribute to community resilience? How can we ensure that robotic telepresence used to aid with the delivery of exercise programmes contributes towards creating and maintaining resilient communities in care homes? Objectives: To explore service users (older people) and staff (nurses, managers, health care assistants) perceptions about telepresence robots To test the feasibility and evaluation of remote 1-2-1 assessment and 4 weeks of group exercise classes delivered using telepresence robot for older frail people living in care homes. METHODS Two care homes were selected (Scotland and Bristol). Work package (WP) 1: The team conducted two workshops with staff and residents at two care homes and explored stakeholders' perceptions, understanding, awareness and use of telepresence robots. 2) Telepresence robot was installed in each care home and one online workshop was conducted with residents and staff to familiarise themselves with the robot. WP2: A physiotherapist conducted remote 1-2-1 assessments to establish baseline parameters using the robot that was maneuvered from his home through his laptop. The residents at care home then participated in a 4-week group exercise sessions (one session per week) delivered via telepresence robot and had their 1-2-1 post assessments at the end of exercise programme. WP3: A focus group workshop was conducted using Microsoft Teams to evaluate the Telepresence robot intervention. Quotes from project team: "There were positive outcomes, particularly in participant engagement and adaptability" " The project was interdisciplinary and necessitated a workforce comprising a team with expertise in various disciplines across the Social and Health Sciences, as well as Computer Science and Technology. This added great value to the project and led to collaborating on other projects." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with expertise in stroke rehabilitation, human-computer interaction, social sciences and representatives from residential care facilities and homes for older adults. This project suggests that telepresence robot has the potential in care home settings. However, technology should be used as a tool to enhance, rather than substitute, therapeutic engagement. Also, future funders will need to provide adequate finance for digital research infrastructure suitable for remote trials and pilots if these are to proceed. Deliverables Submitted an abstract to the 5th International Congress on Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair in Maastricht, May 2025. This project directly addressed the issues related to frailty including social isolation, inactivity by delivering technology based interventions delivered via telepresence robot. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Embedding Resilience |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of mutli-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has been a significant experience for me. It deepened my understanding of the latest advancements in robotics and assistive technology, particularly in healthcare applications. My initial experience was during EMERGENCE summer school where I learnt about the potential of these technologies in healthcare, and this project provided me with the opportunity to apply these insights in real-world context. " "being part of the EMERGENCE network has helped in building connections with experts and researchers who share an interest in bringing robotics into healthcare. These connections have inspired new ideas for future projects and research on using assistive technologies in clinical practice. " "EMERGENCE has enabled me to help create a space where technologists and public come together to make sure that emerging digital technologies are meeting the needs of people in context. Specifically in a sector of society that is often neglected by innovators and innovation policy. Aside from the primary knowledge generated, the work done here will provide important case studies in my work contributing to national and internation innovation policy, and training future technologists in responsible innovation." |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended an online co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at an online consortium wide event held by the EMERGENCE network. This project completed on 31/01/2025. The project research questions were: How do care home staff and residents think digital technologies contribute to community resilience? How can we ensure that robotic telepresence used to aid with the delivery of exercise programmes contributes towards creating and maintaining resilient communities in care homes? Objectives: To explore service users (older people) and staff (nurses, managers, health care assistants) perceptions about telepresence robots To test the feasibility and evaluation of remote 1-2-1 assessment and 4 weeks of group exercise classes delivered using telepresence robot for older frail people living in care homes. METHODS Two care homes were selected (Scotland and Bristol). Work package (WP) 1: The team conducted two workshops with staff and residents at two care homes and explored stakeholders' perceptions, understanding, awareness and use of telepresence robots. 2) Telepresence robot was installed in each care home and one online workshop was conducted with residents and staff to familiarise themselves with the robot. WP2: A physiotherapist conducted remote 1-2-1 assessments to establish baseline parameters using the robot that was maneuvered from his home through his laptop. The residents at care home then participated in a 4-week group exercise sessions (one session per week) delivered via telepresence robot and had their 1-2-1 post assessments at the end of exercise programme. WP3: A focus group workshop was conducted using Microsoft Teams to evaluate the Telepresence robot intervention. Quotes from project team: "There were positive outcomes, particularly in participant engagement and adaptability" " The project was interdisciplinary and necessitated a workforce comprising a team with expertise in various disciplines across the Social and Health Sciences, as well as Computer Science and Technology. This added great value to the project and led to collaborating on other projects." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with expertise in stroke rehabilitation, human-computer interaction, social sciences and representatives from residential care facilities and homes for older adults. This project suggests that telepresence robot has the potential in care home settings. However, technology should be used as a tool to enhance, rather than substitute, therapeutic engagement. Also, future funders will need to provide adequate finance for digital research infrastructure suitable for remote trials and pilots if these are to proceed. Deliverables Submitted an abstract to the 5th International Congress on Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair in Maastricht, May 2025. This project directly addressed the issues related to frailty including social isolation, inactivity by delivering technology based interventions delivered via telepresence robot. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Embedding Resilience |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of mutli-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from project team: "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has been a significant experience for me. It deepened my understanding of the latest advancements in robotics and assistive technology, particularly in healthcare applications. My initial experience was during EMERGENCE summer school where I learnt about the potential of these technologies in healthcare, and this project provided me with the opportunity to apply these insights in real-world context. " "being part of the EMERGENCE network has helped in building connections with experts and researchers who share an interest in bringing robotics into healthcare. These connections have inspired new ideas for future projects and research on using assistive technologies in clinical practice. " "EMERGENCE has enabled me to help create a space where technologists and public come together to make sure that emerging digital technologies are meeting the needs of people in context. Specifically in a sector of society that is often neglected by innovators and innovation policy. Aside from the primary knowledge generated, the work done here will provide important case studies in my work contributing to national and internation innovation policy, and training future technologists in responsible innovation." |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended an online co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at an online consortium wide event held by the EMERGENCE network. This project completed on 31/01/2025. The project research questions were: How do care home staff and residents think digital technologies contribute to community resilience? How can we ensure that robotic telepresence used to aid with the delivery of exercise programmes contributes towards creating and maintaining resilient communities in care homes? Objectives: To explore service users (older people) and staff (nurses, managers, health care assistants) perceptions about telepresence robots To test the feasibility and evaluation of remote 1-2-1 assessment and 4 weeks of group exercise classes delivered using telepresence robot for older frail people living in care homes. METHODS Two care homes were selected (Scotland and Bristol). Work package (WP) 1: The team conducted two workshops with staff and residents at two care homes and explored stakeholders' perceptions, understanding, awareness and use of telepresence robots. 2) Telepresence robot was installed in each care home and one online workshop was conducted with residents and staff to familiarise themselves with the robot. WP2: A physiotherapist conducted remote 1-2-1 assessments to establish baseline parameters using the robot that was maneuvered from his home through his laptop. The residents at care home then participated in a 4-week group exercise sessions (one session per week) delivered via telepresence robot and had their 1-2-1 post assessments at the end of exercise programme. WP3: A focus group workshop was conducted using Microsoft Teams to evaluate the Telepresence robot intervention. Quotes from project team: "There were positive outcomes, particularly in participant engagement and adaptability" " The project was interdisciplinary and necessitated a workforce comprising a team with expertise in various disciplines across the Social and Health Sciences, as well as Computer Science and Technology. This added great value to the project and led to collaborating on other projects." |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with expertise in stroke rehabilitation, human-computer interaction, social sciences and representatives from residential care facilities and homes for older adults. This project suggests that telepresence robot has the potential in care home settings. However, technology should be used as a tool to enhance, rather than substitute, therapeutic engagement. Also, future funders will need to provide adequate finance for digital research infrastructure suitable for remote trials and pilots if these are to proceed. Deliverables Submitted an abstract to the 5th International Congress on Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair in Maastricht, May 2025. This project directly addressed the issues related to frailty including social isolation, inactivity by delivering technology based interventions delivered via telepresence robot. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Feasibility Of Robotic Assisted Monitoring Of Long Term Condition In Primary Care |
| Organisation | NHS Tayside |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | NHS Tayside and us have collaborated to scope and write a proposal to the TayTechHealth accelerator Grand Challenge fund. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NHS Tayside and us have collaborated to scope and write a proposal to the TayTechHealth accelerator Grand Challenge fund. |
| Impact | We submitted a proposal, requesting £35,049.30 for Heriot-Watt to develop and test a robotic application to facilitate self-health monitoring. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Foundation of the UCL Centre for Responsible Innovation |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Using UKRI impact accelerator account finance, and internal finance, UCL in late 2024 established the UCL Centre for Responsible Innovation. The centre is directed by Cian O'Donovan and builds on research, teaching, policy engagement and collaboration activities of O'Donovan, Stephen Hughes, Michel Wahome, Saheli Datta Burton, Melanie Smallman and Jack Stilgoe over the last 15 years. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The centre is three months in. So far collaborators have specificed an initial programme of engagements and activivities within UCL. This includes training activities for approximately 150 UKRI funded STEM phds, as well as reserach bid activity. Our first research win has been a new ESRC Metascience project that includes Stilgoe (PI) and O'Donovan (co-i). |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | GLIDE - Frailty prevention and mitigation through an Immersive Glider experience |
| Organisation | University of Plymouth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of mutli-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. "One of the main benefits for me was the understanding and the management of newly created robotics assemblies and the need to certify them for use with participants. The quick iterative design also enabled to incorporate the needs and requirements of frailty patience in the design of a product that they will use in the future. Also, their aesthetic preferences, interactive requirements to improve playability and using the assembly as a social tool to explore digital replicas of real-life locations leads to better products overall. " "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has deepened my understanding of user-centered design and accessibility in deploying assistive robotics. It has strengthened my research by integrating real-world feedback into the Glider's design, improving both usability and engagement." |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended an online co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at an online consortium wide event held by the EMERGENCE network. The project was funded under the final Robotics for Frailty challenge funding call and completed 31/12/2024. The Immersive Glider project aims to help prevent frailty and improve mobility through low-impact exercise using an immersive environment in order to engage and keep users motivated. The project uses a custom-made paragliding rig with a real paragliding harness and visuals and audio to create a therapeutic experience. The potential benefits include increased bone density, improved muscle strength, enhanced cognitive function, reduced depression, and increased self-esteem. The project aims to assess the glider as a mild form of exercise and gather user feedback to improve its design and functionality. The project seeks to offer a novel approach to frailty prevention by combining physical exercise with an engaging, immersive experience. The co-creation process, involving patients and healthcare experts, ensures the glider's design meets the needs of its users. Project Objectives: Co-development of the Glider assembly Co-design of an immersive environment Feasibility for low impact exercise Project activities: Workshop 1 focused on introducing the glider and a basic game level where the participants observe the researcher navigating the environment by using the handles on the Glider. The experiment was focused only on participants understanding how the Glider can be controlled and how the handles movement gets transferred into the digital world controlling a character. In total 4 participants took part in the session. Worksop 2 focused on introducing the glider with the paragliding harness attached. In addition, a procedurally generated forest environment was used to explore with the Glider. The environment used a combination of visual and audio to immerse the observers. The participants observed the researcher navigating the environment using the handles on the Glider. The environment was focus only on participants understanding how the Glider can be controlled and how the handles movement gets transferred into the digital world controlling a character. In total 3 participants took part in the session. Workshop 3 was a focus group session online with 2 participants focusing on introducing the glider through images and doing a live demo of the environment controlled by a rotary encoder, similar to the one on the Glider. Quotes from project team "One of main greatest benefits regarding this project was the feedback and the insights received from participants in the design journey for both the Glider assembly and the virtual environment. " "The input we received from the participants during the workshops will specifically allow us to improve the accessibility of the Glider and allow for the creation of a more intuitive and user-friendly control interface with easier access for people on a wheelchair." "This project has provided valuable insights into accessibility, user-centered design, and the challenges faced by frailty patients. The exchange of ideas helped improve both functionality and user experience, ensuring a more immersive and accessible solution. This collaboration has been instrumental in refining the project, making it more effective, inclusive, and beneficial for end-users" |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from digital health, arts design & architecture, engineering, computing & mathematics, rehabilitation. W1: The participants discussed the use of the Glider and the design of the environment. The Glider's harness was not used at this stage, instead we used a common stool. Feedback from participants highlighted accessibility issuesfor wheelchair. Potential issue is the position of the arms (raised above the head) participants expressed concern about maintaining that position for a long duration. Environment design: explore a virtual environment in nature, more colour to the level. W2: The participants observed the interaction and expressed their opinions regarding the use of the Glider and the design of the environment. Accessibility to the Glider was raised as an issue again, with one participant suggesting a lower position, inclusion of a hoist for easy access and use the glider as a social element. For the design of the environment, the participants suggested that it needs to be more realistic, it needs to have animals and birds that engage with the user, to replicate some real-world locations. W3: The participants expressed their concern regarding the design of the glider as it could present a challenge for the frailty patients. They also provided feedback and suggestion on how to improve the design of the virtual environment. Deliverables Custom built glider controls Backend pipeline for the connection and integration of a rotary encoder to a Raspberry Pi Pico and the serial port with data accessed directly in Unreal game engine Custom built grey-boxing digital environment Custom built procedurally generated level that enables participants to explore a virtual immersive environment using visuals and 3D placed audio. Abstract to the 5th International Congress on Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair in Maastricht The immersive environment combined with a custom Glider assembly has potential to act as a low impact exercise focused on the upper body strength. The design of both the assembly and the environment needs to follow an iterative approach with the main focus being the frailty patient. It's important to capture their physical needs and requirements and to also include their digital preferences considering that the majority of the participants are older, and some might be digitally excluded. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | GLIDE - Frailty prevention and mitigation through an Immersive Glider experience |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of mutli-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. "One of the main benefits for me was the understanding and the management of newly created robotics assemblies and the need to certify them for use with participants. The quick iterative design also enabled to incorporate the needs and requirements of frailty patience in the design of a product that they will use in the future. Also, their aesthetic preferences, interactive requirements to improve playability and using the assembly as a social tool to explore digital replicas of real-life locations leads to better products overall. " "Being part of the EMERGENCE network has deepened my understanding of user-centered design and accessibility in deploying assistive robotics. It has strengthened my research by integrating real-world feedback into the Glider's design, improving both usability and engagement." |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended an online co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the final Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at an online consortium wide event held by the EMERGENCE network. The project was funded under the final Robotics for Frailty challenge funding call and completed 31/12/2024. The Immersive Glider project aims to help prevent frailty and improve mobility through low-impact exercise using an immersive environment in order to engage and keep users motivated. The project uses a custom-made paragliding rig with a real paragliding harness and visuals and audio to create a therapeutic experience. The potential benefits include increased bone density, improved muscle strength, enhanced cognitive function, reduced depression, and increased self-esteem. The project aims to assess the glider as a mild form of exercise and gather user feedback to improve its design and functionality. The project seeks to offer a novel approach to frailty prevention by combining physical exercise with an engaging, immersive experience. The co-creation process, involving patients and healthcare experts, ensures the glider's design meets the needs of its users. Project Objectives: Co-development of the Glider assembly Co-design of an immersive environment Feasibility for low impact exercise Project activities: Workshop 1 focused on introducing the glider and a basic game level where the participants observe the researcher navigating the environment by using the handles on the Glider. The experiment was focused only on participants understanding how the Glider can be controlled and how the handles movement gets transferred into the digital world controlling a character. In total 4 participants took part in the session. Worksop 2 focused on introducing the glider with the paragliding harness attached. In addition, a procedurally generated forest environment was used to explore with the Glider. The environment used a combination of visual and audio to immerse the observers. The participants observed the researcher navigating the environment using the handles on the Glider. The environment was focus only on participants understanding how the Glider can be controlled and how the handles movement gets transferred into the digital world controlling a character. In total 3 participants took part in the session. Workshop 3 was a focus group session online with 2 participants focusing on introducing the glider through images and doing a live demo of the environment controlled by a rotary encoder, similar to the one on the Glider. Quotes from project team "One of main greatest benefits regarding this project was the feedback and the insights received from participants in the design journey for both the Glider assembly and the virtual environment. " "The input we received from the participants during the workshops will specifically allow us to improve the accessibility of the Glider and allow for the creation of a more intuitive and user-friendly control interface with easier access for people on a wheelchair." "This project has provided valuable insights into accessibility, user-centered design, and the challenges faced by frailty patients. The exchange of ideas helped improve both functionality and user experience, ensuring a more immersive and accessible solution. This collaboration has been instrumental in refining the project, making it more effective, inclusive, and beneficial for end-users" |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from digital health, arts design & architecture, engineering, computing & mathematics, rehabilitation. W1: The participants discussed the use of the Glider and the design of the environment. The Glider's harness was not used at this stage, instead we used a common stool. Feedback from participants highlighted accessibility issuesfor wheelchair. Potential issue is the position of the arms (raised above the head) participants expressed concern about maintaining that position for a long duration. Environment design: explore a virtual environment in nature, more colour to the level. W2: The participants observed the interaction and expressed their opinions regarding the use of the Glider and the design of the environment. Accessibility to the Glider was raised as an issue again, with one participant suggesting a lower position, inclusion of a hoist for easy access and use the glider as a social element. For the design of the environment, the participants suggested that it needs to be more realistic, it needs to have animals and birds that engage with the user, to replicate some real-world locations. W3: The participants expressed their concern regarding the design of the glider as it could present a challenge for the frailty patients. They also provided feedback and suggestion on how to improve the design of the virtual environment. Deliverables Custom built glider controls Backend pipeline for the connection and integration of a rotary encoder to a Raspberry Pi Pico and the serial port with data accessed directly in Unreal game engine Custom built grey-boxing digital environment Custom built procedurally generated level that enables participants to explore a virtual immersive environment using visuals and 3D placed audio. Abstract to the 5th International Congress on Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair in Maastricht The immersive environment combined with a custom Glider assembly has potential to act as a low impact exercise focused on the upper body strength. The design of both the assembly and the environment needs to follow an iterative approach with the main focus being the frailty patient. It's important to capture their physical needs and requirements and to also include their digital preferences considering that the majority of the participants are older, and some might be digitally excluded. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | IBM |
| Organisation | IBM |
| Department | IBM UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022) A representative of IBM sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects. |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Johnnie Johnson Housing |
| Organisation | Johnnie Johnson Housing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions(12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022); Co-creation Methodology Workshop (08/11/2022); Co-creation Workshops (13/01/2023) Assistance with recruitment to WP1 Workshops Provision of location for WP1 Workshops Support for project teams with initial and full proposals for Robotics for Frailty Challenge |
| Impact | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Discover Challenges of Assisted Daily Living (Sheffield) EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Define Challenges of Assisted Daily Living (Sheffield) |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NHS Lothian |
| Organisation | NHS Lothian |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. Attendance at EMERGENCE Robotics for Rehabilitation Therapy Workshop; EMERGENCE Robotics for Home-Activity Monitoring and Frailty Assessment Workshop; Robotics + Care Mashup 2023 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022); Co-creation Workshop (20/01/2023). A representative of NHS Lothian sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects. |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NIHR HealthTech Research Centre Long-term conditions (Devices for Dignity) |
| Organisation | Devices for Dignity |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative working relationship with the University of Sheffield - joint events with D4D have led to talks, presentations and poster presentations to disseminate EMERGENCE findings and contribute to the work of D4D. Invited D4D to speak as a keynote at Summer School event |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dan Clark and Hayley Morris gave a joint key note talk at the Summer School "Designing for Dignity" Dan Clark sat on a panel of judges to give feedback on the project proposals developed during the Summer School and awarded prizes to the winners |
| Impact | Participants of the Summer School benefitted from the insights provided in the key note talk. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | National Rehabilitation Center - South Korea |
| Organisation | National Rehabilitation Center |
| Country | Korea, Republic of |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly visited South Korea and presented at International Symposium on Technology, Environment, and AI for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (ISTEA) on 13th July 2023. Prof Caleb-Solly shared the Emergence Empathy cards with the team at the NRC. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A delegation from the NRC attended a cross-cultural assistive robotics knowledge-exchange visits at University of Sheffield and gave a talk that highlighted the innovative ways in which their research is situated within a healthcare deliverly facility. As part of her visit to the NRC, Prof Caleb-Solly was taken to a range of healthcare providers in Seoul, including an innovation hub which has a unique model of facilitating access for researchers to end-users of the techology. This has helped to develop new ideas for how the Emergence consortium test-beds in the UK could work in similar ways. |
| Impact | Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly visited South Korea and presented at International Symposium on Technology, Environment, and AI for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (ISTEA) on 13th July 2023. A delegation from the NRC Attended cross-cultural assistive robotics knowledge-exchange visits at University of Sheffield and gave a talk. The visit led to a partnership agreement for in-kind contribution to an EPSRC AI hub grant. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | North Bristol NHS Trust |
| Organisation | North Bristol NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022); A representative of North Bristol NHS Trust sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects. |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | RoStER - Robotics Standard Expert Review |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. The project is funded under the all three research themes and will engage with healthcare regulators, practitioners, manufacturers, and end-user groups to develop a draft standard that is contextually relevant, generalizable across different assistive robot platforms and acceptable to user communities, ready for submission to standards agencies. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Robotics, Healthcare Technology, Human Factors, Safety Engineering of Robotics, Governance and Regulation from UWE, University of Hertfordshire and University of Nottingham. No outputs yet. Expected outputs: draft standard; academic publications; presentation at UK healthcare workshop; video summary; technical presentations, resources for Emergence Body of Knowledge hosted on the project website; |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | RoStER - Robotics Standard Expert Review |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. The project is funded under the all three research themes and will engage with healthcare regulators, practitioners, manufacturers, and end-user groups to develop a draft standard that is contextually relevant, generalizable across different assistive robot platforms and acceptable to user communities, ready for submission to standards agencies. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Robotics, Healthcare Technology, Human Factors, Safety Engineering of Robotics, Governance and Regulation from UWE, University of Hertfordshire and University of Nottingham. No outputs yet. Expected outputs: draft standard; academic publications; presentation at UK healthcare workshop; video summary; technical presentations, resources for Emergence Body of Knowledge hosted on the project website; |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | RoStER - Robotics Standard Expert Review |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is funded by the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the project team attended a co-creation methodology workshop ahead of submission of an initial bid submission for funding under the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. Following a successful review, members of the project team attended a co-creation workshop and submitted a successful full proposal. Members of the project team have presented at two consortium wide events held by the EMERGENCE network and attended the shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded projects. The project is funded under the all three research themes and will engage with healthcare regulators, practitioners, manufacturers, and end-user groups to develop a draft standard that is contextually relevant, generalizable across different assistive robot platforms and acceptable to user communities, ready for submission to standards agencies. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Robotics, Healthcare Technology, Human Factors, Safety Engineering of Robotics, Governance and Regulation from UWE, University of Hertfordshire and University of Nottingham. No outputs yet. Expected outputs: draft standard; academic publications; presentation at UK healthcare workshop; video summary; technical presentations, resources for Emergence Body of Knowledge hosted on the project website; |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Robobrico: A Modular Robotic Platform Co-designed with Users |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "From the beginning of my engagement with the EMERGENCE network I have benefited from increasing the diversity of my network within academia and industry and on a national scale. This allowed me to reach out and look into working on other projects in the area of robotics and frailty as well as conducting more informed public engagement activities around this area of research. Having the EMERGENCE backing and funding the idea of Robobrico has given me the opportunity to conduct research in an area which is critical to the welfare of our aging population but also as an early career academic to develop my skills in project management and further my research goals. The seminars allowed me to gain a far greater knowledge than I previously had on both frailty itself and the complexities of using robots in an environment where someone, for example, might be confused or intimidated by a robot's presence. They also covered aspects of the certification, safety and real business considerations that should be taken into account for moving robots out of the lab and into a care setting. This final point about the real-life considerations has been one of the most pivotal as it has not just aided this project's deployment and future plans but it has also given us the knowledge required to apply for funding for future deployments, the ability to look to take this further as a potential commercial enterprise most importantly to any future work and how to engage with care homes in a constructive and positive manner. " |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Robobrico project was been funded under the self-management and mitigation research themes of the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call. The project was completed on 31/07/2024. RoboBrico started with the overall aim of advancing the acceptance and use of robotic platforms in care homes. In order to accomplish this aim they proposed to design and build a hydration module for the RoboBrico platform that was co-designed with the residents, their families and staff of a care home. Over the course of the project, the team ran an observational study to improve knowledge of the facility and staff and residents' interactions, three co-design sessions where they worked with the residents on current methods of hydration and discussed any problems they had, presented initial prototypes and what they would change and then the final prototype development followed by a day-long live deployment in the Viewpoint Care Home. The RoboBrico robotic platform navigated around the central area where residents spent time and was able to distribute water to residents who wanted it over the course of a day. The RoboBrico project allowed the team to explore how a robot can be used in a care home by building a constructive and collaborative relationship with the staff and residents taking into account their range of views on robots and more importantly what they would gain from both the acceptance for the usage of robots and from the actual robot. From the observational study, the team also noted that to properly deploy a robot in a care home there should be a greater use of simulation; however, accurate 3D models of this type of facility cannot be found at present and so through working with Viewpoint the team conducted a full 3D mapping of the Viewpoint buildings. During the project the project team engaged with stakeholders's from the craft cafe at Viewpoint, care home residents and their families, and care home staff. Project Objectives: Conduct observational studies of the Viewpoint care home Run a series of Co-design Workshops with Residents and Staff Prototyping, and final platform build Usability/Acceptance study Project Activities: Observational Study - The initial observation was conducted by two members of the team and did not involve the residents or staff of the care home. Co-design Workshop 1 - Two researchers engaged with eight residents and three of the Craft Café staff to discuss hydration, their current methods, problems and desires for how they want to drink. These interactions were recorded in a co-design method using a combination of drawn and written materials. Co-design Workshop 2 - Two researchers engaged with ten residents, two care home staff and three of the Craft Café staff to discuss and create prototypes of the Robotic hydration module. These interactions were recorded in a co-design method using a combination of drawn and written materials and modelling with different materials for the robot prototypes appearance. Co-design Workshop 3 - A final co-design workshop was run were two researchers engaged with ten residents and two Craft Café staff about the functional prototype that took the previous sessions' work on board and discussed and modified the module further. Viewpoint Deployment - A day-long deployment of the RoboBrico platform in the Viewpoint main living space during the hydration lull which was the time between lunch and dinner when there was no mobile drinks service, this was run by two of the researchers and the platform engaged with three of the residents who directly took water from the robot. Dissemination Event Viewpoint Summer Event - Four of the team were present for this event where the robot was deployed and functional in the care home living area. The event was attended by over 35 of the residents of the care home, 15 members of staff and 11 of the residents' family members, and allowed a greater number of people to see the platform itself and engage with us as researchers and the team. Quotes from the project team: "As an academic, I have gained considerable hands-on knowledge of the daily functioning of a care home. I have only engaged with care homes before either through workshops or having relatives in one and so this project gave me a far greater insight into their functionality. The feedback we received from Viewpoint has been positive and they have enthusiasm for future work and were happy to be engaged in research, this was both from their staff and residents" |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Computer Science, Psychology, Design Research, Robotics, Electrical & Electronic Engineering across Heriot-Watt University and University of Edinburgh. The project team also draws on expertise from industry in participatory design, user experience and product design. The project delivered a two-module robotic platform which could safely be deployed in a care home; it could map the area it was to work and autonomously navigate around that area; it also allowed residents to fill up their cups with water and provide potentially much needed hydration. Insights When working with and in a care home there are a multitude of factors to take into account which include: Residents might be enthusiastic to work with the researchers and use the robotic platform but their families might not be: how to navigate that type of situation proved challenging. The IT systems used by care homes are often antiquated as we discovered when the team began trying to interface with them. For example their PCs ran on Windows 7 as did their water monitoring system. This was upgraded in the middle of our deployment leading to considerable issues with data recording. The team did not manage to achieve the original number of participants they were aiming for, this in part was due to an overestimate of the number of residents within the care home that use the area where the team wished to deploy the robot and of the number who would consent to be part of the work. Due to concerns from the care home, the autonomous navigation was not used during testing and the robot was remote controlled. Outcomes A functional and deployable robotic platform which will form the base for future grant applications. An excellent working relationship with the Viewpoint Care Home where they are keen to work with us on future projects. Tangible deliverables Modular robotic robot A set of 3D maps of the Viewpoint facility. Direct influence The staff at Viewpoint and contacts within ENRICH (Enabling Research in Care Homes) and Lothian Care Home Innovation Partnership (CHIP) have expressed an increase in their desire to be part of both research projects and robotic deployments. This was an incredibly important outcome as without the support of the care homes, we could not have progressed either this project or future projects. The team are working within HWU on how these types of deployments should be run in the future, specifically thinking of the potential risks of deploying robots in these types of settings and what training could be provided to researchers and offered externally. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Robobrico: A Modular Robotic Platform Co-designed with Users |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project was funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge Funding Call. The EMERGENCE network held co-creation methodology workshops to facilitate the development of multi-disciplinary collaborations, robust co-creation methodologies and dissemination of findings from research into understanding the requirements to assess, self-manage and reduce frailty. Initial proposals submitted to the call were reviewed by the EMERGENCE management team, steering group and advisory board and a further co-creation workshop was held for successful project teams to provide guidance in bid writing. Full proposals were subject to a further rigorous review process. Successful projects have been supported and mentored by members of the EMERGENCE team, steering group and advisory board. Project Team pages hosted by the EMERGENCE website have been maintained with project information and updates and teams have been invited to present at consortium wide events. The EMERGENCE network held a shared learning, knowledge exchange and mentoring event for all funded project teams to enable the identification of common themes and synergies between projects and focus on building connections and collaborations with the wider network. Quotes from the project team: "From the beginning of my engagement with the EMERGENCE network I have benefited from increasing the diversity of my network within academia and industry and on a national scale. This allowed me to reach out and look into working on other projects in the area of robotics and frailty as well as conducting more informed public engagement activities around this area of research. Having the EMERGENCE backing and funding the idea of Robobrico has given me the opportunity to conduct research in an area which is critical to the welfare of our aging population but also as an early career academic to develop my skills in project management and further my research goals. The seminars allowed me to gain a far greater knowledge than I previously had on both frailty itself and the complexities of using robots in an environment where someone, for example, might be confused or intimidated by a robot's presence. They also covered aspects of the certification, safety and real business considerations that should be taken into account for moving robots out of the lab and into a care setting. This final point about the real-life considerations has been one of the most pivotal as it has not just aided this project's deployment and future plans but it has also given us the knowledge required to apply for funding for future deployments, the ability to look to take this further as a potential commercial enterprise most importantly to any future work and how to engage with care homes in a constructive and positive manner. " |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Robobrico project was been funded under the self-management and mitigation research themes of the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call. The project was completed on 31/07/2024. RoboBrico started with the overall aim of advancing the acceptance and use of robotic platforms in care homes. In order to accomplish this aim they proposed to design and build a hydration module for the RoboBrico platform that was co-designed with the residents, their families and staff of a care home. Over the course of the project, the team ran an observational study to improve knowledge of the facility and staff and residents' interactions, three co-design sessions where they worked with the residents on current methods of hydration and discussed any problems they had, presented initial prototypes and what they would change and then the final prototype development followed by a day-long live deployment in the Viewpoint Care Home. The RoboBrico robotic platform navigated around the central area where residents spent time and was able to distribute water to residents who wanted it over the course of a day. The RoboBrico project allowed the team to explore how a robot can be used in a care home by building a constructive and collaborative relationship with the staff and residents taking into account their range of views on robots and more importantly what they would gain from both the acceptance for the usage of robots and from the actual robot. From the observational study, the team also noted that to properly deploy a robot in a care home there should be a greater use of simulation; however, accurate 3D models of this type of facility cannot be found at present and so through working with Viewpoint the team conducted a full 3D mapping of the Viewpoint buildings. During the project the project team engaged with stakeholders's from the craft cafe at Viewpoint, care home residents and their families, and care home staff. Project Objectives: Conduct observational studies of the Viewpoint care home Run a series of Co-design Workshops with Residents and Staff Prototyping, and final platform build Usability/Acceptance study Project Activities: Observational Study - The initial observation was conducted by two members of the team and did not involve the residents or staff of the care home. Co-design Workshop 1 - Two researchers engaged with eight residents and three of the Craft Café staff to discuss hydration, their current methods, problems and desires for how they want to drink. These interactions were recorded in a co-design method using a combination of drawn and written materials. Co-design Workshop 2 - Two researchers engaged with ten residents, two care home staff and three of the Craft Café staff to discuss and create prototypes of the Robotic hydration module. These interactions were recorded in a co-design method using a combination of drawn and written materials and modelling with different materials for the robot prototypes appearance. Co-design Workshop 3 - A final co-design workshop was run were two researchers engaged with ten residents and two Craft Café staff about the functional prototype that took the previous sessions' work on board and discussed and modified the module further. Viewpoint Deployment - A day-long deployment of the RoboBrico platform in the Viewpoint main living space during the hydration lull which was the time between lunch and dinner when there was no mobile drinks service, this was run by two of the researchers and the platform engaged with three of the residents who directly took water from the robot. Dissemination Event Viewpoint Summer Event - Four of the team were present for this event where the robot was deployed and functional in the care home living area. The event was attended by over 35 of the residents of the care home, 15 members of staff and 11 of the residents' family members, and allowed a greater number of people to see the platform itself and engage with us as researchers and the team. Quotes from the project team: "As an academic, I have gained considerable hands-on knowledge of the daily functioning of a care home. I have only engaged with care homes before either through workshops or having relatives in one and so this project gave me a far greater insight into their functionality. The feedback we received from Viewpoint has been positive and they have enthusiasm for future work and were happy to be engaged in research, this was both from their staff and residents" |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary collaboration with involvement from Computer Science, Psychology, Design Research, Robotics, Electrical & Electronic Engineering across Heriot-Watt University and University of Edinburgh. The project team also draws on expertise from industry in participatory design, user experience and product design. The project delivered a two-module robotic platform which could safely be deployed in a care home; it could map the area it was to work and autonomously navigate around that area; it also allowed residents to fill up their cups with water and provide potentially much needed hydration. Insights When working with and in a care home there are a multitude of factors to take into account which include: Residents might be enthusiastic to work with the researchers and use the robotic platform but their families might not be: how to navigate that type of situation proved challenging. The IT systems used by care homes are often antiquated as we discovered when the team began trying to interface with them. For example their PCs ran on Windows 7 as did their water monitoring system. This was upgraded in the middle of our deployment leading to considerable issues with data recording. The team did not manage to achieve the original number of participants they were aiming for, this in part was due to an overestimate of the number of residents within the care home that use the area where the team wished to deploy the robot and of the number who would consent to be part of the work. Due to concerns from the care home, the autonomous navigation was not used during testing and the robot was remote controlled. Outcomes A functional and deployable robotic platform which will form the base for future grant applications. An excellent working relationship with the Viewpoint Care Home where they are keen to work with us on future projects. Tangible deliverables Modular robotic robot A set of 3D maps of the Viewpoint facility. Direct influence The staff at Viewpoint and contacts within ENRICH (Enabling Research in Care Homes) and Lothian Care Home Innovation Partnership (CHIP) have expressed an increase in their desire to be part of both research projects and robotic deployments. This was an incredibly important outcome as without the support of the care homes, we could not have progressed either this project or future projects. The team are working within HWU on how these types of deployments should be run in the future, specifically thinking of the potential risks of deploying robots in these types of settings and what training could be provided to researchers and offered externally. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Robotics for Diabetes self-management |
| Organisation | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have contributed to the design of a protocol to conduct a systematic review of robotic applications to assist people living with diabetes and co-organised and hosted 2 focus groups at the National Robotarium, to explore related challenges and possible benefits of using robotic technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at Napier had contributed to the design of the review, recruited the participants to the workshops and analysed the resulting qualitative data. |
| Impact | Two papers have been published: Al Bayrakdar, A., Wojcik, G., Dragone, M., McConnell, A., Charlton, J., & Paterson, R. (2024). Robotics use in the care and management of people living with Diabetes Mellitus in the community - a scoping review protocol Al Bayrakdar, Amani, et al. "Robotics use in the care and management of people living with diabetes mellitus: A scoping review." 34th European Diabetes Congress 2025: Innovative Solutions for Diabetes Management and Treatment. 2025. The journal article actual scoping review is being completed The team has also written a paper about the finding from the qualitative study. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) |
| Organisation | Royal College of Occupational Therapists |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | The annual meeting of the Royal Society of Occupational Therapist (RCOT) was hosted in the Robotarium, on the 15th of May 2024. The event included an EMERGENCE CPD session (2h:30'), led by Dragone, involving 40 OTs in a round of interactive demonstrations, followed by a group discussion on use cases, ethics, regulations and CPD design. Following the workshop, Heriot-Watt's team worked with researchers from the Napier University of Edinburgh to scope the integration of training in robotic technology as part of their MSc in Occupational Therapy, and worked on a proposal for a robotic project focusing on co-designing robotic applications for the rehabilitation of people living with dementia, to be funded by RCOT. |
| Collaborator Contribution | RCOT is keenly interested in the digital up-skilling of its members. They are supporting the CPD collaboration between Napier and Heriot-Watt University, promoting our events and championing our initiative with the Scottish Government. |
| Impact | 1) The EMERGENCE CPD to RCOT members in May 2024 was well received. Out of the 24 feedback forms submitted by the participants, the content and the delivery of the workshop was rated excellent by 15 and good by 9 of them, noting that the workshop was too short. All the participants stated that they would recommend these CPD sessions to their colleagues and attend similar (but longer) future events. Comments from the participants ranged from suggesting series of focused workshops on specific themes (e.g. robotics for rehabilitation practice) to highlighting new use cases but also technical barriers and risks factors that should be addressed in the design of assistive robotic technology. 2) The proposal submitted by Napier and Heriot-Watt has been funded by RCOT (~20K for Heriot-Watt). 3) On Thursday 20th March 2025, RCOT will present an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament. The exhibition will highlight a new partnership collaboration between occupational therapy academics at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) and Heriot Watt University/National Robotarium (Dragone), with Alzheimer Scotland, the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG), National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) and NHS Forth Valley, who together are undertaking a new research project to investigate how robotic technology can help people living with dementia (Co-creating The Future: The Use Of Multifunctional Robots In Occupational Therapy And Dementia). The project was chosen as a key note of the RCOT presentation to the Scottish Parliament as it aligns with the recent strategic positioning of health and social care, as outlined by the Scottish Government, which seeks to: (i) Reduce the immediate pressures across the NHS, (ii) Shift the balance of care from acute services to the community, and (iii) Use innovation - digital and technological - to improve access to care |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | SHIL |
| Organisation | Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (SHIL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022) A representative of SHIL sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects. |
| Impact | A representative of SHIL gave an expert talk on "Regulatory challenges for healthcare": Expert Webinar Series - Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics (03/07/2024) |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Sanctuary Housing |
| Organisation | Sanctuary Housing Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Research with Sanctuary residents and staff |
| Collaborator Contribution | Personnel and technical support |
| Impact | Research projects in progress |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) |
| Organisation | Scottish Social Services Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. SSSC have been involved in the activities of WP4 (Future care workforce skills for integration of healthcare robotics into care and support (Lead: Dr Dragone)). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions; Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event; SSSC has also helped to advertise and recruit participants from the care sector for the joint workshop the EPSRC NetworkPlus EMERGENCE organised with the Empowering Future Care Workforces project from the Trustworthy Autonomous System (TAS) network. The workshop run at Heriot-Watt University's campus in Edinburgh, on November 15th, between 10AM and 12PM. SSSC is also contributing to the design of further four workshops to identify gaps in clinical and engineering education to enable healthcare technology skills development, in conjunction with other partner organisations, including Skills for Care and NHS Health Education England and Scotland. |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals |
| Organisation | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board and Steering Group for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022) A representative of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals sits on the EMERGENCE Network Steering Group giving input into selection of pilot projects. |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Skills for Care |
| Organisation | Skills for Care |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions(12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022); |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Toyota |
| Organisation | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Department | Toyota Motor Europe NV SA |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions (12/01/2022); Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event (28/09/2022); Co-creation Methodology Workshop (14/11/2022) A representative of Toyota Motor Europe sits on the EMERGENCE Network Advisory Board giving input into the selection of pilot projects. |
| Impact | Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | WEAHSN |
| Organisation | West of England Academic Health Science Network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Access to research expertise. Invitations extended to all network activities and events. Invitation extended to invite a member of the organisation to sit on the Advisory Board for the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at the following events: Project Partner Introductions(12/01/2022) |
| Impact | No outputs/outcomes to date |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Title | CIREI Project and WISE-WARE Middleware |
| Description | This repository contains the middleware's source code, workshop materials, project documentation, and demonstration videos that illustrate the installation process and real-life application with a variety of devices. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Potential impact: The middleware solution is designed to enhance the integration of robots with embodied intelligence in the homes of older adults living with frailty. This solution, developed under the CIREI framework, facilitates interoperability between commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, enabling smarter, more adaptive environments that promote independent living for older individuals. |
| URL | https://github.com/A-Al-Tamimi/CIREI |
| Title | Hydration Platform for RoboBrico Modular System |
| Description | The Hydration Platform is a module developed to fit and work with the RoboBrico Modular System built by RoboBrico. I has an insulated storage area for what which can be dispensed either remotely or by a user pressing a button. |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The hydration platform allowed us to conduct our work at the Viewpoint Care Home. |
| Title | RoboBrico Modular Base |
| Description | This is the base module for the RoboBrico robotic platform, it forms the core of the robot providing power to the other modules, movement and navigation. |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Allowed for the testing at the Viewpoint Carehome. |
| Title | cordial-ai/cordial-core: v1.0 |
| Description | Server Component for the CoRDial Project |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | This formed the backend of the Cordial agentic architecture, which was used for co-design activity workshops with older adults. Findings from this were very useful to form dialogue constructs for "Consent and Override," where counterfactual reasoning seemed most appropriate to manage robot responses. Specifically in situations where the robot should normally comply with the user's stated preferences but may need to override those preferences in certain situations (e.g., to prevent harm). e.g. If I had followed your request to keep that information private, you would have been at risk of serious harm." |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.15013543 |
| Title | cordial-ai/cordial-dashboard: v1.0 |
| Description | Frontend Dashboard Component for the CoRDial Project |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | This relates to the satellite project Cordial - which includes an Agentic Platform for persona-driven conversational AI for care robots using explainable AI constructs. Details of the project appear here: www.cordial.rguairgroup.com We used this platform to conduct co-design activities with older adults, enabling them to directly interact with care robot dialogues and provide feedback on dialogue constructs. Specifically, we were able to explore the role of counterfactual explainable dialogue constructs with this tool. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.15013575 |
| Description | 1st Summer School in Cyber-physical Health & Assistive Robotics Technologies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE Healthcare Technologies Network+ is focused on building meaningful connections and collaborations between individuals equipped with the knowledge, expertise and technical skills required to drive state-of-the-art robotics forward in new directions to support healthy ageing and wellbeing. Bringing like-minded early career researchers with multidisciplinary backgrounds together, at the beginning of their careers, to consider the current barriers which exist to the acceptability, adoption and deployment of intelligent robotic solutions in this field has been key to achieving these goals. The first residential Cyber-physical Health & Assistive Robotic Technologies (CHART) summer school, held at the University of Nottingham in early September 2024, welcomed 29 early career researchers to take a deep dive into the issues surrounding healthy ageing and wellbeing to better understand and engage with the challenges which arise in designing and developing assistive and supportive solutions. Through a series of thought-provoking keynote addresses and inspiring hands-on workshops led by specialist experts, delegates were encouraged to examine these challenges from different perspectives, taking an empathetic approach to see them through the lens of those with lived experiences, and applying them to a design competition culminating in team presentations of proposed solutions and prototypes to conclude the event. Key take home messages emphasised the importance of: - understanding the wider background and context to healthy ageing and wellbeing, recognising that a comprehensive holistic approach is required. - engaging with end-users to ensure equitable and effective technological solutions that empower users by addressing evidenced unmet needs with a tangible impact on health and care outcomes. - early consideration of the accessibility requirements to be addressed for users who experience age-related health conditions and impairments or who live with disabilities - understanding the service landscape and considering practical issues such as training, support and maintenance within the implementation stages of development. - engaging collaboratively with specialist stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals, to address technical challenges and ethical implications and ensure effective integration of solutions within care settings - empowering care workforces through appropriate training and technology integration to enhance care quality and worker satisfaction. The team that secured first prize in the design competition brought together expertise in computer science, health sciences, biomedical engineering and robotics to develop a prototype of a physiotherapy robot built on the capabilities of existing NAO robots with potential to bridge critical gaps in healthcare delivery. Keynote speakers: Shirley Hall, Royal Star and Garter "An introduction to healthy ageing" Hayley Morris & Dan Clark, NIHR Devices for Dignity "Designing for dignity" Zoe Clarke, Barnsley Foundation NHS Hospital Trust "Assistive Technology: The importance of appropriate development" Sara Cooper, PAL Robotics "Challenges for social robot applications for older adult care" Cian O'Donovan, UCL "Future care workforce skills for the integration of healthcare robotics" Adam Gordon, Wolfson Institue of Population Health "Challenges and opportunities for the care of older people" Workshop Leaders CHART Research group - Product discovery workshop with technical demonstrations Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly - Accessibility workshop Laura Fiorini, University of Florence - State of the art in assistive robotics workshop Kyle Harrington, Univesity of Nottingham - Prototyping for human factors workshop Alan Winfield, UWE, Ethics and RRI workshop Other activities Panel discussion to explore lived experiences of healthy ageing - panel of 5 PPIE members with lived experiences |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/summer-school-2024 |
| Description | 2022 International Symposium on Rehabilitation Research, South Korea |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited as a keynote speaker to give a 30 minute lecture for session 2 of the symposium program, 'Expansion of Robotic Technology from Hospitals to Homes'. The presentation included the work of the Emergence team and ongoing findings on the potential of expansion of robotic technology from hospitals to homes, with a view to promote future rehabilitation research and development of rehabilitation using assistive robots. The International Symposium on Rehabilitation Research is participated in by persons with disabilities and experts from Korea and abroad in the field of rehabilitation policy, rehabilitative health care services, and rehabilitation research, and promotes multilateral information exchange and international cooperation on promoting the health of persons with disabilities and rehabilitation research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://nrc.go.kr/eng/html/content.do?depth=n_ri&menu_cd=02_04_01 |
| Description | 7th IEEE UK & Ireland RAS Conference (RAS 2024) - Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly chaired a session at the 7th IEEE UK & Ireland RAS Conference hosted by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University on 21st-22nd February 2024. Title of session: "Human-Robot Interaction, Social and Ethical Challenges" Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly spoke on "Benchmarking Competitions for Trustworthy Robots - An approach to improve standards and regulations for assistive robots" and has initiated interest for a working group to develop a national assistive robot benchmarking competition. Additionally, the session has sparked off a connection with the Robotics Lead at the Technology and Innovative Regulation Directorate and the Robotics Growth Partnership. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://docs.google.com/document/d/16c2TmTqTw44r82Ic_yULwrKqHSRblMt-Rv7o7-AWkJY/edit |
| Description | Assistive Robotics & AI Enabled Technologies Roundtable (Yorkshire) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A roundtable of policy makers and practitioners, as well as some industry representatives to discuss the use of robots in health and social care in Yorkshire |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | BSI Group Robotics: Ethical Design Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This activity was part of a free webinar hosted by the British Standards Institute Group to enabling dissemination of the updated BS 8611:2023 - national standard on ehtical robot design. Participants discoverd how this updated standard guides against psychological, social, and physical harms. Prof Caleb-Solly spoke on the Ethical Design and Application of Assistive Robots, and then led an interactive session where participants worked reflected on the implications of the guidance in relation to some hypothetical use cases derived from the Emergence project research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://pages.bsigroup.com/l/35972/2024-05-21/3t7v9ds |
| Description | Beyond video-conferencing workshop (GROUP '25) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Despite resurgent interest in remote work technologies, many forms of specialised work remain inaccessible. Participation in remote activities often requires more than video-conferencing. Telepresence technologies, using robotics and mixed reality, can fill that gap by supporting more affordances. However, we still need to know which affordances are needed and how they should be implemented. This workshop focuses on telepresence technologies for mediating specialised tasks and extending expertise reach, such as teaching technical skills or providing healthcare assistance. We will invite experts from specific fields (e.g., education, healthcare, industry) to guide participants through use cases, and interactive exercises to identify what kinds of actions and interaction modalities are important in different scenarios. The aim of the workshop is to initiate critical discussions into the design of telepresence technologies and foster future work driven by a focus on understanding practical user needs. Workshop Themes Many types of remote, collaborative activities require more engaging forms of interactivity than what mainstream technology currently supports. Specialised work, such as teaching technical skills often requires moving, altering one's point of view and interacting with objects. Telepresence technologies, such as robotics and Virtual Reality (VR) are a potential avenue for the extending the reach of experts to underserved populations. However, such technologies often miss the mark of what is required in order to successfully participate in hybrid modalities. This workshop aims to draw attention to the importance of understanding the specific demands of specialised tasks so as to inform design that caters to those needs. As Hollan and Stornetta (1992) argued, the media and mechanisms of remote work technologies ought to address specific user needs, rather than simply imitate the experience of `being there'. This workshop explores a participation-driven approach to telepresence, to examine ways of supporting the mediation of specialised skills and extend the reach of experts. During the workshop we expect to discuss the following themes: Ways of perceiving mediated and mixed reality spaces Input and output modalities of interaction Different forms of mobility in mediated spaces The implementation of telepresence devices in organisational settings Safety, security and privacy considerations The experience of co-located people The accessibility of specialised telepresence devices Implications for equality, diversity and inclusion Infrastructural considerations Technical considerations for effective use Research methodologies for understanding user needs and evaluating telepresence technologies Working with experts and institutions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/view/group25-telepresence-ws |
| Description | British Society of Gerontology 52nd Annual Conference 2023: Inclusive Ageing - a Society for All |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly presented at the British Society of Gerontology 52nd Annual Conference on 4th July 2023 on "Co-producing a new generation of assistive robots that address real-world challenges: Exploring the experiences and aspirations of people with lived experience of frailty, carers and healthcare professionals". This disseminated the findings from Emergence WP1 activities. Showcased the Emergence empathy cards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.britishgerontology.org/events-and-courses/past-conferences/2023-uea-norwich |
| Description | Centre for Artificial Intelligence and RObotics (CAIRO) Invited Speakers Series - Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk "How can bio-inspired robotic platforms help develop new artificial intelligence (AI) services to benefit society?" given at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and RObotics (CAIRO) Invited Speakers Series - Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt The talk contributed to strenghten the collaboration between CAIRO and the SHU Department of Computing, including an agreement to exchange staff and postgraduate students, with a particular focus on the topics covered by the talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.thws.de/forschung/institute/cairo/invited-speakers-series/ |
| Description | Continuous Professional Development workshop to Royal College of Occupational Therapists |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An CPDworkshop was conducted by Dragone as part of the Royal Society of Occupational Therapist (RCOT) meeting, which was hosted in the Robotarium, on the 15th of May 2024. The event included a CPD session involving 40 OTs in a round of interactive demonstrations, followed by a group discussion on use cases, ethics, regulations and CPD design. Out of the 24 feedback forms submitted by the participants, the content and the delivery of the workshop was rated excellent by 15 and good by 9 of them, noting that the workshop was too short. All the participants stated that they would recommend these CPD sessions to their colleagues and attend similar (but longer) future events. Comments from the participants ranged from suggesting series of focused workshops on specific themes (e.g. robotics for rehabilitation practice) to highlighting new use cases but also technical barriers and risks factors that should be addressed in the design of assistive robotic technology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Cross-cultural assistive robotics knowledge-exchange visits |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hosted fact-finding visit by researchers from the National Rehabilitation Center, Korea to dementia-care and independent-living facilities in Sheffield region, including engagement with care professionals at dementia-care home and "coffee morning" event about assistive robotics with residents of independent-living scheme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Demonstration at the UK's first Mayoral Innovation Exchange |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Organised by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and PricewaterhouseCooper, the event convened the UK's elected metro mayors to foster collaboration, enable innovation, and share best practice between mayoral combined authorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Creation Methodology Workshop (Hertfordshire) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A co-production methodology workshop was held at the University of Hertfordshire on 27/04/2023. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to generate awareness of the research challenges for Robotics for Frailty and to provide opportunities for collaboration and engagement. The workshops were aimed at individuals interested in submitting proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call as well as those interested in learning more about co-creation for designing healthcare robotics solutions. Following attendance at the workshop, attendees were eligible to apply for feasibility funding via the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. The workshop was attended by 28 individuals with representatives from academia, industry and health care. The workshop, which was one of a series of workshops at different locations, was designed as a dynamic and interactive event in collaboration with an external facilitator to ensure consistency of experience for all participants. During the workshop, the EMERGENCE team gave updated presentations of the network aims, objectives and work to date along with an overview of findings into lived experiences of frailty, management and support. The workshop also incorporated interactive sessions to allow opportunities to network with researchers in assistive robotics and to share expertise, skills and experiences to build collaborative links with the EMERGENCE network community. Additionally, the workshop provided an opportunity to share and learn about a range of co-production and co-creation approaches from other attendees. Formal feedback was positive with attendees reporting new learning about formal methodologies for co-creation, utilisation of ideas for unconnected bids and new connections. Several of the attendees went on to submit initial proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. A total of 14 innovative project ideas were generated. Impact on Stakeholders: Early Career Researchers (ECRs): Gained valuable insights and skills in co-production methodologies, enhancing their research capabilities and career development. Collaborative Networks: Strengthened connections between academia, industry, and healthcare, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Creation Workshop (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE team invited the members of four project teams to attend a co-creation workshop at the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to support project teams to address issues highlighted during the review process of the initial proposals submitted to the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call to facilitate the production of a stronger application at the full proposal stage. The workshop was facilitated by experts in grant writing GrantCraft Ltd and was designed to support the development of all initial proposals in a way that would be beneficial to all participants. The workshops were predominantly group work focused and guided participants through the components of the full proposal form to assist participants in building key messages, arguments and justifications into their projects against the funding remit. There was also a focus on the positioning of the projects in terms of how they fit into the bigger picture of each team's work, discussions about potential funding options following project completion and identification of alternative funding streams and strategies. Formal feedback from attendees was positive and full proposals were received from all of the teams attending. Impact on Stakeholders: Project Teams: Received tailored support to refine their proposals, increasing the likelihood of successful funding and project implementation. Grant Writing Experts: Provided an opportunity to share their expertise and contribute to the advancement of impactful research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Creation Workshop (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE team invited the members of two project teams to attend a co-creation workshop at the University of Nottingham. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to support project teams to address issues highlighted during the review process of the initial proposals submitted to the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call to facilitate the production of a stronger application at the full proposal stage. The workshop was facilitated by experts in grant writing GrantCraft Ltd and was designed to support the development of all initial proposals in a way that would be beneficial to all participants. The workshops were predominantly group work focused and guided participants through the components of the full proposal form to assist participants in building key messages, arguments and justifications into their projects against the funding remit. There was also a focus on the positioning of the projects in terms of how they fit into the bigger picture of each team's work, discussions about potential funding options following project completion and identification of alternative funding streams and strategies. Formal feedback from attendees was positive and full proposals were received from both of the teams attending. Impact on Stakeholders: Project Teams: Received tailored support to refine their proposals, increasing the likelihood of successful funding and project implementation. Grant Writing Experts: Provided an opportunity to share their expertise and contribute to the advancement of impactful research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Creation Workshop (Online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE team invited the members of six project teams to attend an online co-creation workshop on 25th July 2023. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to support project teams to address issues highlighted during the review process of the initial proposals submitted to the second Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call to facilitate the production of a stronger application at the full proposal stage. The workshop was designed to support the development of all initial proposals in a way that would be beneficial to all participants. The workshops were predominantly group work focused and guided participants through the components of the full proposal form to assist participants in building key messages, arguments and justifications into their projects against the funding remit. There was also a focus on the positioning of the projects in terms of how they fit into the bigger picture of each team's work, discussions about potential funding options following project completion and identification of alternative funding streams and strategies. Formal feedback from attendees was positive and full proposals were received from all six of the teams attending. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Creation Workshop (Sheffield) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE team invited the members of three project teams to attend a co-creation workshop at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to support project teams to address issues highlighted during the review process of the initial proposals submitted to the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call to facilitate the production of a stronger application at the full proposal stage. The workshop was facilitated by experts in grant writing GrantCraft Ltd and was designed to support the development of all initial proposals in a way that would be beneficial to all participants. The workshops were predominantly group work focused and guided participants through the components of the full proposal form to assist participants in building key messages, arguments and justifications into their projects against the funding remit. There was also a focus on the positioning of the projects in terms of how they fit into the bigger picture of each team's work, discussions about potential funding options following project completion and identification of alternative funding streams and strategies. Formal feedback from attendees was positive and full proposals were received from two of the teams attending. Impact on Stakeholders: Project Teams: Received tailored support to refine their proposals, increasing the likelihood of successful funding and project implementation. Grant Writing Experts: Provided an opportunity to share their expertise and contribute to the advancement of impactful research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Methodology Workshop (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A co-production methodology workshop was held as a hybrid event at the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University and online via Microsoft Teams on 14/11/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to generate awareness of the research challenges for Robotics for Frailty and to provide opportunities for collaboration and engagement. The workshops were aimed at individuals interested in submitting proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call as well as those interested in learning more about co-creation for designing healthcare robotics solutions. Following attendance at the workshop, attendees were eligible to apply for feasibility funding via the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. The workshop was attended by 38 individuals with representatives from academia, industry and health care. The workshop, which was one of a series of workshops at different locations, was designed as a dynamic and interactive event in collaboration with an external facilitator to ensure consistency of experience for all participants. During the workshop, the EMERGENCE team gave updated presentations of the network aims, objectives and work to date along with an overview of findings into lived experiences of frailty, management and support. The workshop also incorporated interactive sessions to allow opportunities to network with researchers in assistive robotics and to share expertise, skills and experiences to build collaborative links with the EMERGENCE network community. Additionally, the workshop provided an opportunity to share and learn about a range of co-production and co-creation approaches from other attendees. Formal feedback was positive with attendees reporting new learning about formal methodologies for co-creation, utilisation of ideas for unconnected bids and new connections. Several of the attendees went on to submit initial proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. A total of 21 innovative project ideas were generated. Impact on Stakeholders: Early Career Researchers (ECRs): Gained valuable insights and skills in co-production methodologies, enhancing their research capabilities and career development. Collaborative Networks: Strengthened connections between academia, industry, and healthcare, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Methodology Workshop (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A co-production methodology workshop was held as a hybrid event at the University of Nottingham and online via Microsoft Teams on 03/11/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to generate awareness of the research challenges for Robotics for Frailty and to provide opportunities for collaboration and engagement. The workshops were aimed at individuals interested in submitting proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call as well as those interested in learning more about co-creation for designing healthcare robotics solutions. Following attendance at the workshop, attendees were eligible to apply for feasibility funding via the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. The workshop was attended by 15 individuals with representatives from academia, industry and health care. The workshop, which was one of a series of workshops at different locations, was designed as a dynamic and interactive event in collaboration with an external facilitator to ensure consistency of experience for all participants. During the workshop, the EMERGENCE team gave updated presentations of the network aims, objectives and work to date along with an overview of findings into lived experiences of frailty, management and support. The workshop also incorporated interactive sessions to allow opportunities to network with researchers in assistive robotics and to share expertise, skills and experiences to build collaborative links with the EMERGENCE network community. Additionally, the workshop provided an opportunity to share and learn about a range of co-production and co-creation approaches from other attendees. Formal feedback was positive with attendees reporting increased understanding of how robotics can support health and social care and a better insight into the work currently being done in EMERGENCE areas. Several of the attendees went on to submit initial proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. A total of 21 innovative project ideas were generated. Impact on Stakeholders: Early Career Researchers (ECRs): Gained valuable insights and skills in co-production methodologies, enhancing their research capabilities and career development. Collaborative Networks: Strengthened connections between academia, industry, and healthcare, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Methodology Workshop (Sheffield) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A co-production methodology workshop was held as a hybrid event at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University and online via Microsoft Teams on 08/11/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to generate awareness of the research challenges for Robotics for Frailty and to provide opportunities for collaboration and engagement. The workshops were aimed at individuals interested in submitting proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call as well as those interested in learning more about co-creation for designing healthcare robotics solutions. Following attendance at the workshop, attendees were eligible to apply for feasibility funding via the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. The workshop was attended by 19 individuals with representatives from academia, industry and health care. The workshop, which was one of a series of workshops at different locations, was designed as a dynamic and interactive event in collaboration with an external facilitator to ensure consistency of experience for all participants. During the workshop, the EMERGENCE team gave updated presentations of the network aims, objectives and work to date along with an overview of findings into lived experiences of frailty, management and support. The workshop also incorporated interactive sessions to allow opportunities to network with researchers in assistive robotics and to share expertise, skills and experiences to build collaborative links with the EMERGENCE network community. Additionally, the workshop provided an opportunity to share and learn about a range of co-production and co-creation approaches from other attendees. Formal feedback was positive with attendees finding the event well delivered, well organised and informative with appropriate and interesting content. Several of the attendees went on to submit initial proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. A total of 21 innovative project ideas were generated. Impact on Stakeholders: Early Career Researchers (ECRs): Gained valuable insights and skills in co-production methodologies, enhancing their research capabilities and career development. Collaborative Networks: Strengthened connections between academia, industry, and healthcare, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Define Challenges of Assisted Daily Living (Sheffield) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held at Scampton Lodge, a retirement housing facility in Sheffield managed by project partners Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust, on 08/07/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to identify and evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of potential health technology solutions which address the barriers identified in the previous workshop. Participants were recruited from two residential independent living facilities with the help of project partners Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust. In total, 5 residents and 2 carers attended the workshop which was facilitated by 4 members of the EMERGENCE team. The workshop comprised of a series of discussions for which the participants were split into two groups. Participants were asked to consider a series of conceptual artworks depicting potential assistive robotics solutions which had been produced by illustrator Sam Church in response to the outputs from the previous workshop. Participants were encouraged to explore their reactions to these concepts and to discuss the practicalities of each in terms of any concerns they might have about adopting something similar into their own lives. Through this, the team sought to identify barriers that exist to the deployment of assistive robotics solutions for this cohort. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Define Challenges of Self-Monitoring of Frailty (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held at the University of Edinburgh on 15/07/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to work with active pre-frail older adults and healthcare professionals with experience in self-management and prevention of frailty to identify and evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of potential health technology solutions addressing the issues identified in the previous workshop. Participants were recruited from healthcare settings, regional residential housing associations and the general public. In total, 11 participants attended comprising 3 healthcare professionals and 8 older adults. The workshop was comprised of three main sessions. During the first and second session, participants were split into two groups and asked to consider a series of conceptual artworks depicting potential assistive robotics solutions which had been produced by illustrator Sam Church in response to the outputs from a previous workshop. Participants were encouraged to explore their reactions to these concepts and to discuss the practicalities of each in terms of any concerns they might have about adopting something similar into their own lives. Through this, the team sought to identify barriers that exist to the deployment of assistive robotics solutions for this cohort. The final session comprised of a robot showcase where a number of robotic devices were demonstrated to participants. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Discover & Define Challenges of Assisted Daily Living (Hertfordshire) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held at the University of Hertfordshire College Lane Campus, on 26/09/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to explore the experiences and aspirations of people with lived experience of frailty and their carers in relation to assisted daily living with frailty and identify and evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of potential health technology solutions which address the barriers identified. Participants were recruited from regional residential independent living facilities. In total, 4 residents and 4 carers attended the workshop which was facilitated by 4 members of the EMERGENCE team. The workshop comprised of two main discussion sessions with the participants split into two groups. During the first session, participants were asked to consider a number of fictional personae living with frailty and discuss the challenges they felt would be faced under various categories of daily living such as, for example, getting out and about, cooking, cleaning, shopping and bathing and encouraged to explore how technology might provide solutions to these challenges. The second session introduced the concept of assistive robotics with a number of current assistive devices being demonstrated to participants. Participants were asked to discuss whether they felt that these had potential for addressing challenges for daily living for people living with frailty, whether it was something they would use themselves and their thoughts on any barriers they felt existed to the practicalities of using them within their own residential settings. Participants were also asked to consider a series of conceptual artworks depicting potential assistive robotics solutions which had been produced by illustrator Sam Church in response to the outputs from a previous workshop. Participants were encouraged to explore their reactions to these concepts and to discuss the practicalities of each in terms of any concerns they might have about adopting something similar into their own lives. Through this, the team sought to identify barriers that exist to the deployment of assistive robotics solutions for this cohort. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The workshop was also attended by an illustrator, Sam Church, who took notes and produced summary artwork to capture the discussion in a way that maintained elements of expression, emotion and feeling. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Discover & Define Challenges of Monitoring Frailty (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held as a hybrid event both in person at the Postgraduate Medical Education Centre in Nottingham and online via Microsoft Teams, on 15/09/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to further explore the experiences and aspirations of healthcare professionals in relation to the pathways for frailty support and the ways in which frailty is monitored. Additionally, there was a second focus on identifying and evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of potential healthcare technology solutions associated with the issues identified by healthcare professionals. Participants were initially asked to consider the patients they came into contact with as healthcare professionals and discuss common problems they saw as being associated with frailty, the problems seen most often in patients, difficulties faced on discharge and the symptoms that are hardest to manage, and why. Following this, participants were then asked to consider and discuss existing technology in use within their workplaces and the opportunities they felt existed for the development of new technologies. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Discover Challenges of Assisted Daily Living (Sheffield) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held at Scampton Lodge, a retirement housing facility in Sheffield managed by project partners Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust, on 24/06/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to explore the experiences and aspirations of people with lived experience of frailty and their carers in relation to assisted daily living with frailty. Participants were recruited from two residential independent living facilities with the help of project partners Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust. In total, 8 residents and 1 carer attended the workshop which was facilitated by 4 members of the EMERGENCE team. The workshop was comprised of three main sessions. During the first session, participants were split into two groups and asked to consider two fictional personae living with frailty and discuss the challenges they felt would be faced under various categories of daily living such as, for example, getting out and about, cooking, cleaning, shopping and bathing. The second session was a repetition of the first with a different set of personae and participants were encouraged to explore how technology might provide solutions to these challenges. The third session introduced the concept of assistive robotics. Participants were shown a series of short videos of current technology on the market and asked to discuss whether they felt that these had potential for addressing challenges for daily living for people living with frailty, whether it was something they would use themselves and their thoughts on any barriers they felt existed to the practicalities of using them within their own residential settings. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The workshop was also attended by an illustrator, Sam Church, who took notes and produced summary artwork to capture the discussion in a way that maintained elements of expression, emotion and feeling. In addition, the illustrator also produced conceptual artwork depicting a number of potential assistive robotic solutions suggested by the workshop participants. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Discover Challenges of Monitoring Frailty (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held as a hybrid event both in person at the University of Nottingham and online via Microsoft Teams, on 26/07/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to discover the experiences and aspirations of healthcare professionals in relation to the pathways for frailty support and the ways in which frailty is monitored. Participants were recruited from the NHS with the help of project partners from the Department of Healthcare of Older People at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham. 4 participants attended in total and the workshop was facilitated by 3 members of the EMERGENCE team. During the workshop, participants were initially asked to consider two fictional personae living with frailty and briefly discuss the challenges they felt would be faced under various categories of daily living such as, for example, getting out and about, cooking, cleaning, shopping and bathing. Following on from this, participants were then asked to consider, in their roles as healthcare professionals working with people living with frailty, the impact of what they typically see emerging as a result of these challenges, and where the biggest difficulties might lie for these individuals and healthcare professionals in supporting them. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The workshop was also attended by an illustrator, Sam Church, who took notes and produced summary artwork to capture the discussion in a way that maintained elements of expression, emotion and feeling. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-Production Workshop: Discover Challenges of Self-Monitoring of Frailty (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A co-production workshop was held at the University of Edinburgh on 04/07/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to work with active pre-frail older adults and healthcare professionals with experience in self-management and prevention of frailty to discover their experiences and aspirations with a focus on NHS England's Practical Guide to Healthy Ageing. Participants were recruited from academia, healthcare settings, regional residential housing associations and the general public. In total, 13 participants attended comprising 2 occupational therapists, 1 telecare admin, 1 carer, 1 academic and 8 older adults. The workshop was comprised of three main sessions. During the first and second session, participants were split into two groups and asked to consider a fictional persona living with frailty and explore what issues they might face when following the NHS guidelines. The third session introduced the concept of assistive robotic technologies, giving an overview of possible roles of robots with demonstrations of cognitive, physical and social assistive robots. Participants were then split into breakout groups again in order to explore opportunities for technology and/or robotic automation. All discussions were recorded with key points being captured on post it notes throughout the workshop. The workshop was also attended by an illustrator, Sam Church, who took notes and produced summary artwork to capture the discussion in a way that maintained elements of expression, emotion and feeling. The analysis of the workshop outcomes were used to inform the priority areas and requirements for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding calls. Impact on Stakeholders: Residents and Carers: Empowered to voice their needs and preferences, ensuring that the solutions developed are user-centered and address real-world challenges. Researchers and Technologists: Gained a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of frailty, guiding the development of more relevant and effective assistive technologies. Housing Trusts and Care Providers: Enhanced their ability to support residents through the integration of innovative technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Co-creation Methodology Workshop (Online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An online co-production methodology workshop was held on 09/06/2023. The focus and intended purpose of the workshop was to generate awareness of the research challenges for Robotics for Frailty and to provide opportunities for collaboration and engagement. The workshops were aimed at individuals interested in submitting proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call as well as those interested in learning more about co-creation for designing healthcare robotics solutions. Following attendance at the workshop, attendees were eligible to apply for feasibility funding via the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. The workshop was attended by 23 individuals with representatives from academia, industry and health care. The workshop, which was one of a series of workshops at different locations, was designed as a dynamic and interactive event in collaboration with an external facilitator to ensure consistency of experience for all participants. During the workshop, the EMERGENCE team gave updated presentations of the network aims, objectives and work to date along with an overview of findings into lived experiences of frailty, management and support. The workshop also incorporated interactive sessions to allow opportunities to network with researchers in assistive robotics and to share expertise, skills and experiences to build collaborative links with the EMERGENCE network community. Additionally, the workshop provided an opportunity to share and learn about a range of co-production and co-creation approaches from other attendees. Formal feedback was positive with attendees reporting new learning about formal methodologies for co-creation, utilisation of ideas for unconnected bids and new connections. Several of the attendees went on to submit initial proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge Call. A total of 14 innovative project ideas were generated. Impact on Stakeholders: Early Career Researchers (ECRs): Gained valuable insights and skills in co-production methodologies, enhancing their research capabilities and career development. Collaborative Networks: Strengthened connections between academia, industry, and healthcare, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Consortium Networking Event (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE Healthcare Technologies Network+ invited all members of the consortium, along with those who are interested in becoming part of the network, to attend a full day of networking activities focused on the challenges associated with successfully embedding robots into the daily lives of people with lived experience of frailty. The event was open to all including, academics with research interests in this field, technologists and roboticists working to develop technology for this group, health and social care professionals working with older people, people with lived experiences of frailty or caring for individuals with frailty and any other interested members of the public. 40 participants attended to consider different perspectives, hear key speaker views, listen to funded project team members talk about their experiences, learn about current research taking place in this field and to build connections and collaborations across the wider network. The event took place at the Ingenuity Centre at the University of Nottingham on 20th February 2024. Keynote speakers for the event were: Zoe Clarke EC Service Lead for the Assistive Technology Team at Barnsley Hospital NHS Trust Professor Adam Gordon Professor of the Care of Older People, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham Impact on Stakeholders: Consortium Members: Strengthened their collaborative relationships, leading to more cohesive and impactful research efforts. New Participants: Gained insights into current research and opportunities to contribute to the field, expanding the network's reach and influence. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/tackling-challenges |
| Description | EMERGENCE Joint Workshop with the EPSRC Trustworthy and Autonomous Systems Hub pump-priming project (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a workshop at the National Robotarium on 15/11/2022 in conjunction with the EPSRC Trustworthy and Autonomous Systems Hub pump-priming project, Empowering Future Care Workforces. The aim was to understand how health and social care professionals can benefit from using assistive robotics on their own terms. Empowering health and social care professionals through digital technologies has long been a goal in health and care policy. As governments invest in post-pandemic digital transformation, ensuring workers are empowered and not excluded by technology is more urgent than ever. The focus of the workshop was scoping capabilities to leverage assistive robotics through co-design. As such the participants were given the opportunity to observe and interact with a range of different assistive robots in a smart home environment and provided with scenarios to help elicit a deeper understanding of what skills and training would be need for healthcare professionals to leverage emerging robotics solutions. The healthcare professionals attending were in turn able to gain insight into issues such as what the impact of these technologies will be on their responsibilities, training needs, organizational structure, and working conditions. The findings are informing the work on work package 4 and will inform ongoing work on developing a set of online resources with CPD material for health and social care staff. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Joint Workshop with the EPSRC Trustworthy and Autonomous Systems Hub pump-priming project (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a workshop at the Cobot Maker Space at Nottingham University on 07/11/2022 in conjunction with the EPSRC Trustworthy and Autonomous Systems Hub pump-priming project, Empowering Future Care Workforces. The aim was to understand how health and social care professionals can benefit from using assistive robotics on their own terms. Empowering health and social care professionals through digital technologies has long been a goal in health and care policy. As governments invest in post-pandemic digital transformation, ensuring workers are empowered and not excluded by technology is more urgent than ever. The focus of the workshop was scoping capabilities to leverage assistive robotics through co-design. As such the participants were given the opportunity to observe and interact with a range of different assistive robots in a smart home environment and provided with scenarios to help elicit a deeper understanding of what skills and training would be needed for healthcare professionals to leverage emerging robotics solutions. The healthcare professionals attending were in turn able to gain insight into issues such as what the impact of these technologies will be on their responsibilities, training needs, organizational structure, and working conditions. The findings are informing the work on work package 4 and will inform ongoing work on developing a set of online resources with CPD material for health and social care staff. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EMERGENCE Robotics for Home-Activity Monitoring and Frailty Assessment Workshop (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a full day workshop from the National Robotarium, Heriot-Watt University's campus in Edinburgh, on September 8th 2023. The workshop was designed for health and social care professionals to learn about, and test, Internet of Things (IoT) and robotic solutions for home-activity monitoring and frailty assessment. The workshop was part of a series of workshops designed to understand how health and social care professionals can benefit from using assistive robotics on their own terms and the focus of the workshop was on robotic technology in support of home activity monitoring and frailty assessment. The attendees of the workshop learned about and tested state-of-the-art Internet of Things (IoT) and robotic solutions for home-activity monitoring and frailty assessment, discussed requirements for configuring, verifying and validating systems to best match the needs of staff in dynamic care contexts and contributed to identifying gaps in clinical and engineering education to enable healthcare technology skills development, and scope continuing professional development needs. The analysis from this and further workshops will generate insights about the kinds of policy support and interdisciplinary research infrastructure needed for new forms of human-robot collaboration in caring environments during and after digital transformation. The workshop was open to multi-disciplinary health and social care professionals and anyone from institutional organisations and especially anyone involved in CPD and with a keen interest in technology innovation to address current and future service delivery challenges. 24 participants attended the workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/robotics-for-home-activity-monitorin... |
| Description | EMERGENCE Robotics for Rehabilitation Therapy Workshop (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a full day workshop from the National Robotarium, Heriot-Watt University's campus in Edinburgh, on July 21st 2023. The workshop was designed for health and social care professionals to learn about, and test, robotics for rehabilitation therapy and to identify CPD requirements. The workshop was part of a series of workshops designed to understand how health and social care professionals can benefit from using assistive robotics on their own terms and the focus of the workshop was on robotic technology in support of physical rehabilitation therapies. The attendees of the workshop learned about and tested state-of-the-art rehabilitative robotic platforms, including examples of social robots and wearable robotics, discussed requirements for configuring, verifying and validating systems to best match the needs of staff in dynamic care contexts and contributed to identifying gaps in clinical and engineering education to enable healthcare technology skills development, and scope continuing professional development needs. The analysis from this and further workshops will generate insights about the kinds of policy support and interdisciplinary research infrastructure needed for new forms of human-robot collaboration in caring environments during and after digital transformation. The workshop was open to multi-disciplinary health and social care professionals and anyone from institutional organisations and especially anyone involved in CPD and with a keen interest in technology innovation to address current and future service delivery challenges. 15 participants attended the workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/robotics-for-rehabilitation-therapy-... |
| Description | EMERGENCE Shared Learning, Knowledge Exchange and Mentoring Event (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a networking event for members of the funded feasibility project teams, steering group and advisory board to focus on building connections and collaborations between project teams and the wider network by sharing learning from the projects, exchanging knowledge and experiences and engaging in mentoring opportunities. Project team members worked together to identify common themes and synergies and to develop an understanding of opportunites for connections and collaborations. The project teams also took part in some initial formative evaluation of the other projects. 20 participants representing all six funded project teams attended with a further 8 mentors joining online for a hybrid mentoring exercise. Project teams engaged in useful discussions and built new collaborative ways of working across projects with a number of teams agreeing to move forward with new mentoring links from within the steering group and advisory board memberships. Impact on Stakeholders: Project Teams: Benefited from the expertise and guidance of experienced mentors, enhancing the quality and impact of their projects. Steering Group and Advisory Board Members: Had the opportunity to share their knowledge and contribute to the development of emerging researchers and projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/shared-learning |
| Description | EMERGENCE Telepresence Robotics Workshop (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a full day workshop from the University of Nottingham, on October 13th 2023. The workshop was designed for health and social care professionals to learn about, and test, telepresence robotics. The workshop was part of a series of workshops designed to understand how health and social care professionals can benefit from using assistive robotics on their own terms and the focus of the workshop was on telepresence robotic technology. The attendees of the workshop learned about and tested telepresence robot platforms, discussed requirements for configuring, verifying and validating systems to best match the needs of staff in dynamic care contexts and contributed to identifying gaps in clinical and engineering education to enable healthcare technology skills development, and scope continuing professional development needs. The analysis from this and further workshops will generate insights about the kinds of policy support and interdisciplinary research infrastructure needed for new forms of human-robot collaboration in caring environments during and after digital transformation. The workshop was open to multi-disciplinary health and social care professionals and anyone from institutional organisations and especially anyone involved in CPD and with a keen interest in technology innovation to address current and future service delivery challenges. 22 participants attended the workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/telepresence-robotics-workshop |
| Description | EMERGENCE Trailblazers Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE Healthcare Technologies Network+ held a webinar on Tuesday 12th September 2023 featuring a number of key speakers to complement the themes of our trailblazer projects funded by the first Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call. Each trailblazer project team presented the challenges, opportunities, aims and objectives of their projects along with an update of their progress to date. The webinar also included opportunities for networking with other attendees to allow for further in-depth exploration of our trailblazer themes. 30 people registered to attend the event with more joining as a result of an open invitation extended via social media on the day of the event. Keynote speakers at the event were: Professor Roy Sandbach OBE, Newcastle University Professor. Filippo Cavallo, University of Florence, Italy Philippa Hemmings, UKRI Impact on Stakeholders: Trailblazer Project Teams: Gained visibility and feedback on their projects, helping to refine their approaches and achieve their objectives. Attendees: Benefited from the shared knowledge and networking opportunities, fostering new collaborations and ideas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/emergence-trailblazers-webinar |
| Description | Exhibition at the IEEE International Conference of Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | ICRA is the largest robotics conference. 6000 attendees overall from academia, industry, media and the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.icra2023.org/ |
| Description | Expert Webinar 1/4: Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics (08/05/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network invited expert speakers to speak at a series of webinars focusing on topics relating to safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics in health and social care. The first of these took place on Wednesday 8th May 2024. 40 people registered to attend the event and a recording has been available on the EMERGENCE website since 09/05/2024. Attendees heard from the following speakers: Emma Glass & Takiyah Williams , University Partnerships Manager & Standards Development Manager, BSI: "The power of standards in healthcare innovation" Professor Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics, University of the West of England: "Ethical standards in robotics and AI: What they are and why they matter" Following the expert webinar series, a number of participants reported that the content had influenced their current work in terms of the considerations taken into account in relation to safety, ethics and regulations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/expert-webinar-series |
| Description | Expert Webinar 2/4: Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics (03/07/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network invited expert speakers to speak at a series of webinars focusing on topics relating to safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics in health and social care. The second of these took place on Wednesday 3rd July 2024. 27 people registered to attend the event and a recording has been available on the EMERGENCE website since 04/07/2024. Attendees heard from the following speakers: Professor Ronald Arkin , Regent's Professor, Georgia Tech: "Forays into ethics, social robotics and healthcare" Elaine Gemmell, Head of Regulatory Affairs, InnoScot Health: "Regulatory challenges for healthcare" Following the expert webinar series, a number of participants reported that the content had influenced their current work in terms of the considerations taken into account in relation to safety, ethics and regulations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/expert-webinar-series |
| Description | Expert Webinar 3/4: Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics (11/09/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network invited expert speakers to speak at a series of webinars focusing on topics relating to safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics in health and social care. The third of these took place on Wednesday 11th September 2024. 32 people registered to attend the event and a recording has been available on the EMERGENCE website since 12/09/2024. Attendees heard from the following speakers: Professor Jim Torresen, Professor of Computer Science, University of Oslo: "Ethical considerations for robots supporting independent living of older people" Dr. Natalie Leesakul, Assistant Professor in law and autonomous systems, University of Nottingham: "The future of regulations for embodied AI in health and social care" Following the expert webinar series, a number of participants reported that the content had influenced their current work in terms of the considerations taken into account in relation to safety, ethics and regulations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/expert-webinar-series |
| Description | Expert Webinar 4/4: Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics (13/11/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network invited expert speakers to speak at a series of webinars focusing on topics relating to safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics in health and social care. The fourth of these took place on Wednesday 13th November 2024. 38 people registered to attend the event and a recording has been available on the EMERGENCE website since 14/11/2024. Attendees heard from the following speakers: Sean Clarkson, Head of Strategic Operations, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber: "Driving the adoption and spread of innovation: Key considerations" Clive Gilbert, Head of Accessible Transport, Policy Connect: "Smarter homes for independent living" Following the expert webinar series, a number of participants reported that the content had influenced their current work in terms of the considerations taken into account in relation to safety, ethics and regulations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/expert-webinar-series |
| Description | Formative Evaluation Workshop (20/03/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | A formative evaluation workshop was held at Finnegley Lodge - a Johnnie Johnson residential housing facility in Sheffield - with 11 participants comprising residents of Johnnie Johnson Housing, relatives, friends or carers of older adults and housing or community support professionals. The purpose of the workshop was to obtain opinions and feedback on the work and progress of the feasibility projects funded by the grant. Following the workshop, the feedback was collated and passed to the project teams to ensure continuity of co-design and co-production input. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Guest Lecture for Sheffield University 2nd-Year Robotics course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Introduced UG robotics students to assistive robotics and the societal and ethical challenges in robotics in health and social care |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Guest Talk for the London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo), BBSRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The talk entitled Robotics to Tackle Frailty - Sensing and Adapting to Change, was presented as part of an annual event hosted by the London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo), BBSRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership who organise a series of cross-UKRI remit talks and workshops aimed at broadening their students' understanding of the scientific landscape that frames their funding body. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.lido-dtp.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Guest lecture for COMP3016 - Computer Science and Games - December 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Marius Varga - Guest lecture for COMP3016 - Computer Science and Games - December 2024 - University of Plymouth - talked about the project as part of Game development approaches and strategies talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | ICRA 2024 Workshop on Robot Ethics (13/05/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Sponsorship was provided to a workshop at ICRA 2024, which took place in Yokohama, Japan, focused on ethical, legal and user perspectives in robotics & automation. The workshop was designed to raise awareness, prompt debate and share knowledge about ethical, legal and user/social perspectives for robot assistants operating in personal and public environments with humans. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about these topics and engage with the community to think about mitigating risks and ways to reduce the unfavorable impact on society. The workshop illustrated the challenges related to privacy, security, safety, and diversity of users through several examples. Professor. Praminda Caleb-Solly introduced and facilitated an interactive session with workshop participants on how we address user/social perspectives using empathy cards which showcased and utilised the EMERGENCE empathy cards as research tools. Talk title "Addressing User and Social Perspectives Using Empathy Cards" Professor. Praminda Caleb-Solly also chaired a contributed presentation and interaction session incorporating presentations and discussions on the following topics: "Ethical Reflections: Privacy and Human Monitoring of Human-Robot collaboration in the Future Manufacturing Industry" "Exploring Ethical Dimensions: Worker Autonomy, Authority, and Agency in Human-Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing Contexts" "Risk-based Socially-Compliant Behavior Planning for Autonomous Driving" The workshop disseminated the online version of the empathy cards to a wide audience and led to requests for copies of the physical cards to be used on a national basis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/view/icra2024-robot-ethics/home |
| Description | IROS 2022 Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a half-day workshop at IROS 2022 in Kyoto, Japan in conjunction with the EPSRC Trustworthy and Autonomous Systems Hub pump-priming project Empowering Future Care Workforces project. The workshop focused on assistive robots in the real world and supporting healthcare professionals to leverage autonomous assistive devices. The objectives of the workshop were to: Review how designers and operators can expose machine decision making to verify and validate safe operations in dynamic care environments. Review how diverse stakeholders can best inform the creation and revision of standards such as ISO 13482 on personal care robots which at present does not consider issues of verification and validation in the face of changing patient needs, for instance. Assess how we can put measures of wellbeing at the heart of evidencing the efficacy of RAS to systematically assess the wellbeing implications of assistive robotics on health and care professionals, and the people they care for. Review how roboticists and care professionals can be empowered to overcome already existing inequalities in the care landscape that mean that marginalised people who most need care are often excluded from benefitting from emerging technologies and services. Identify what kind of interdisciplinary collaborations, research infrastructures and innovation policies are needed to support this work. Identify how robotics research can overcome issues of local specificity, safely adapting emerging RAS in care to best suit complex local settings where care actually happens. The workshop was carefully designed to encourage collaborative discussion, co-learning and possibilities for agenda setting and future collaborations through a mixture of creative small group activities alongside five invited talks, research reports and poster sessions. During the workshop, participants listened to the following talks: "The problematic marriage between care and technology" - Prof. Luc de Witte, Professor of Technology for Health Care, Technology for Health Care Group, The Hague University of Applied Sciences. "Assistive Technologies (from ICT to AAR)" - Professor Tomohiro Shibata, Professor of Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyutech, Japan "Barriers and opportunities for adoption of robotics in healthcare" - Prof. Nigel Harris, Visiting Professor, University of the West of England and the Department of Health at the University of Bath "Design and Control of Wearable Robotics for Real-World Applications" - Dr. Brokoslaw Laschowski, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada "Personal Care Robots for frailty and neurodegenerative diseases" - Prof Filippo Cavello, Professor in Biomedical Robotics and Head of BioRobotics Lab, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence This workshop included a unique contribution from healthcare professionals and end-users on their lived experiences, highlighting the barriers and opportunities. These videos provided by our external stakeholders were used to prompt reflection and ideation for solutions and approaches to address the issues highlighted. These videos have been made available on the Emergence website and continue to be used. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events/iros-2022-workshop |
| Description | Intelligent Systems for Frailty: Interactive Workshop for Industry (15/05/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 26 occupational therapists with experience of working with older adults with lived experiences of frailty, stroke and other long term conditions attended a workshop at The National Robotarium to explore the training needs of the care workforce in relation to assistive healthcare technologies. The workshop was designed to raise awareness of the technologies available and to give opportunities for hands on interaction in order to obtain opinions, comments and feedback on opportunities and challenges for deployment within health and social care. Attendees reported increased understanding of available technology to support frailty and proposed ideas for future collaborations. The feedback fromt he assessments fo the technical demonstrations was useful for the work package 3 work that EMERGENCE are undertaking and will be written up in deliverables. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Intelligent systems and robotics in health & social care - workshops for SMEs (21/08/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 5 individuals from local technology companies attended a series of mini workshops designed as an opportunity to explore the challenges for deployment of intelligent systems and robotics in health and social care. This workshop provided companies who develop healthcare technologies with an understanding of what we have learned regarding deployment gaps and an opportunity to reflect on how this learning could be incorporated to improve and develop technologies so that they are more easily adopted by healthcare professionals. During the workshop, participants: - Reviewed current thinking on existing technology - Considered use cases and potential solutions - Explored sensors and robots in a living lab via a telepresence robot - Considered risks, ethical issues and CPD requirements |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/intelligent-systems-and-robotics-in-... |
| Description | Involvement in "Devices for Dignity, Revolutionising HealthTech for Long Term Conditions" event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited involvement (poster presentation) in the event "Devices for Dignity, Revolutionising HealthTech for Long Term Conditions", celebrating 15 years of the NIHR Devices for Dignity Medtech Co-operative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/resources/poster |
| Description | Lectures @ PERSEO Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The 2022 Summer School on Service-Based and Cloud Robotics was organised by the PERSEO ETN European Doctoral Training Network on Personalised Robotics. The school will consist of lectures from the international experts in the field. Lectures sparked questions and discussions increasing the knowledge and interest of the PG students in the topics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://perseo-summer-school.github.io/ |
| Description | Lectures for the Sheffield University of 3rd Age |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Lecture about "How AI can benefit Society". Audience included senior adults that engaged in question and discussion afterwards. The event served also to generate interest and recruit participants for human-robot interaction studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participant feedback visits |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of early care robot concepts at 2 coffee mornings with sheltered housing residents and care staff |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation and Demonstration to the ENRICH Scotland Executive |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | ENRICH (Enabling Research in Care Homes) Scotland invited the RoboBrico team to present their robotic platform, results, and methodology to their executive team over a 30-minute period. The executive team discussed the engagement and recruitment approaches used with the RoboBrico team and wished to engage further in new grant applications or research, as the project had been well received. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation and Interactive Demo at Viewpoint Care Home |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | The RoboBrico Team attended a summer event at Viewpoint Carehome where we ran an interactive demo of the robotic platform and actively discussed the work with carers, residents of the carehome, participants of the project, family members and other attendees. Around 40 residents, several members of their families, and staff from the care home attended the event. The staff reported an overall positive feeling towards the project and a willingness to engage further afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the 10th European Healthcare Design 2024 (EHD 2024) Congress, Awards & Exhibition, London UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Abstract accepted for oral presentation titled "How robot interventions could support people with frailty in overcoming physical barriers in their homes". (Session details: Session 27: Robotics in healthcare', Tuesday 11 June 2024). The European Healthcare Design Conference 2024 is a prestigious conference within the field of architecture. Contacts made and networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the 17th European Public Health (EPH) Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Abstract accepted for pitch presentation titled "I am frail and my robot is stuck on the corridor: cohabitation of people with frailty and robots" (Session details: Thursday 14 November 2024).Networking and discussion afterwards on the project with other attendees interested on the subject. Over 2,000 professionals participate at the EPH conferences and it is highly prestigious. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the 6th International Conference on Architecture, Research, Care and Health (ARCH2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Abstract accepted for presentation at the plenary session for posters (Poster Kucha) titled "Effect of robot interventions for supporting people with frailty inside real built environments". (Session details: Poster Kucha, Monday 17 June 2024).eer reviewed presentation, poster and plenary session 'Poster Kucha'. The presentation sparked discussion afterward on the project with participants interested on the subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the HONDA HARU Fest |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Haru Fest 2022 Recently Tokyo hosted to the inaugural Haru Fest 2022! Attended by over 100 academics, engineers, and writers from around the world, Haru Fest was an opportunity not only to celebrate the social robots of Honda Research Institute Japan's, but also for the academics and professionals who designed Haru to share their work and discuss the future of social robots. Haru Fest's theme was empathy, integration, and diversity, and it focused on issues in empathy, bond and trust with social robots and their integration into society. It took place over 2 days jam-packed with inspiring invited talks, insightful panel sessions, and informative flash talks featuring visionaries from industry and academia. Last but not least, Haru Fest featured awe-inspiring demonstrations of capabilities from both Honda's pioneering social robot, ASIMO, and from Haru itself. Attendees left feeling knowledgeable about, connected to, and optimistic about Haru's social robotics community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://mypersonalrobots.org/events/2022/10/29/haru-fest-2022-a-gathering-of-the-tribes |
| Description | Presentation at the Healthcare Estates 2024, Manchester UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Abstract accepted for oral presentation titled "Assessing the constraints of the physical environment for people with frailty-robot cohabitation". (Session details: Exhibition seminar, Tuesday 8 October 2024). This is the UK's Largest Event for Healthcare Engineering and Estates Management Professional, addressing the critical subjects affecting the healthcare engineering and estates management sector today, aiming to provide answers to these challenges. Networking and discussion afterwards on the project with other attendees interested on the subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to Scottish Parliament |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Heriot-Watt University contributed to a exhibition in the Scottish Parliament in March 2025. The exhibition will highlight a new partnership collaboration between occupational therapy academics at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) and Heriot Watt University/National Robotarium (Dragone), with Alzheimer Scotland, the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG), National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) and NHS Forth Valley, who together are undertaking a new research project to investigate how robotic technology can help people living with dementia (Co-creating The Future: The Use Of Multifunctional Robots In Occupational Therapy And Dementia). The project was chosen as a key note of the RCOT presentation to the Scottish Parliament as it aligns with the recent strategic positioning of health and social care, as outlined by the Scottish Government, which seeks to: (i) Reduce the immediate pressures across the NHS, (ii) Shift the balance of care from acute services to the community, and (iii) Use innovation - digital and technological - to improve access to care. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation to company Board |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to the Board of a telecare company. Raised awareness of the state of care robotics and of participatory research methods |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Project Partner Introductions Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | This event was held online for the purpose of building connections and working relationships with the partners that had conveyed their support for the EMERGENCE network project. It was attended by the EMERGENCE project team and representatives from 17 separate project partner institutions/companies. The EMERGENCE project team gave a presentation that covered details of their research labs and test beds, an overview of the EMERGENCE project aims and objectives and details pertaining to the work packages and associated activities planned. Each project partner contributed by introducing themselves, their backgrounds and their planned contribution to the network. This was the first opportunity for project partners to meet in the context of the EMERGENCE work and the event sparked questions and discussions around the EMERGENCE priorities from a variety of perspectives bringing clinical partners, healthcare service providers, healthcare innovation services, care workforce representatives, international academic partners and technology companies together for the first time. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Public lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professorial inaugural lecture, open and widely advertise to the public. Around 100 participants, including form the public, e.g. 15 registered participants were from the university of third age. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://blog.shu.ac.uk/awrc/2023/05/17/prof-alessandro-di-nuovo-inaugural-lecture/ |
| Description | Research projects presentation at the 7th IEEE UK and Ireland Robotics and Autonomous Systems Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The conference attracted over 200 participants of which 118 were postgraduate or undergraduate students, 20 from industry/business. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ieee-ukandireland.org/event/ras-2024-7th-annual-ieee-uk-and-ireland-robotics-and-automat... |
| Description | Robotics + Care Mashup 2023 (Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The network sponsored an week long hackathon event hosted by the CARE Group from the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, the Robotics + Care Mashup in October 2023 to bring together students, academics, end-users, care providers and technologists to develop solutions that could help people live more independent lives. The event featured talks, hands-on workshops and tutorials for technologists and care providers, with leading experts in healthcare, assistive technology and robotics - all centred around a 5-day long hackathon. A number of the sessions were also available online. The event was attended by innovators, healthcare experts, students, researchers and industry experts. 40 participants attended in person and a further 10 attended online over 5 days, 14 of them MSc students from different Universities involved in the hackathon. One of the days was integrated with the DHI Healthcare Cluster meeting, where their attendees were asked to provide their feedback on the concepts being developed in the hackathon. There were also contributions from 2 clinicians from NHS Lothian and Blackwood Homes and Care. The DHI has expressed an interest in being more involved in the organisation of the next mashup. The event brought more people to join the EMERGENCE network, and helped to start new collaborations with Napier University. We are designing CPD for their MSc Social Care and Occupational Therapist programmes, centred around the use of tele-presence robotics. Impact on Stakeholders: Participants: Engaged in hands-on problem-solving, gaining practical experience and building networks across disciplines. Emergence Network: Expanded its reach and influence, attracting new members and fostering a collaborative community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/robotics-care-mashup-2023 |
| Description | Robotics for Frailty Challenge Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A challenge launch event was held as a hybrid event at the University of Nottingham and online via Microsoft Teams on 28/09/2022. The focus and intended purpose of the event was to introduce attendees to the EMERGENCE network, engage with talks from invited speakers, share an overview of the emerging research outputs from our work package 1 activities and to announce the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call. Participants listened to a number of excellent key speakers speak from a variety of perspectives on the challenges around robotic assistive systems and frailty with particular reference to the challenges that exist for deployment of existing technology into service within the homes of those living with frailty. Presentation slides and recordings from all key speakers and project team presentations given during the event are available at the URL given below. Key speakers for the event included: Philippa Hemmings, Head of Healthcare Technologies, EPSRC Dr. Elizabeth Mestheneos, Administrative Board and Founder Member, 50+Hellas Mark Van Loock, Technology Manager Robotics, Toyota Motor Europe Michael Gray, Implementation Lead (Health & Social Care Data Driven Innovation) at Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh Sara Cooper, Robotics Software Engineer, PAL Robotics Following the talks, the EMERGENCE team shared the emerging themes from the outputs of work package 1 workshop activities and announced the Robotics for Frailty Challenge funding call to fund research-driven proposals that engage with these findings and advance the state of the art of robotics towards being capable of transforming community health and care, with an emphasis on real-world adoption and deployment. Attendees were encouraged to register to attend one of a series of co-creation methodology workshops aimed at individuals who are interested in submitting proposals for the Robotics for Frailty Challenge call and also at those who are interested in learning more about co-creation for designing healthcare robotics solutions. Informal feedback from the event was positive and led to 97 registrations for attendance at our co-creation methodology workshop events. Impact on Stakeholders: Academics and Industry Experts: Provided a platform to share knowledge, collaborate, and drive forward the research agenda in assistive robotics. Funding Bodies: Highlighted priority areas for investment, ensuring that funding is directed towards impactful and innovative projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events/robotics-for-frailty-challenge |
| Description | Robottingham Symposium 2024 (09/07/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ROBOTTINGHAM aims to bring together academics, researchers, and students working in Robotics and AI from across the East Midlands. Guests and attendees from the city, county, as well as beyond the East Midlands region, working on Robotics and AI activities, shared their ideas to build on the East Midlands' leading role in advancing Robotics and AI in strategic applications domains. EMERGENCE sponsored the event in 2024 and raised awareness of our work with this audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/view/robottingham-2024/home?authuser=0 |
| Description | Seminar at the Health Equity in AI Decision (HEAD) Residency Program |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The seminar delivered was on Assistive Robotics and Intelligent Health Technologies - A focus on person-centred design, as part of a one-week residency program designed to be the key driver in establishing the HEAD core team. It was structured as an immersive experience bringing together 15 individuals from various sectors, including research and the private sector to collaborate in a unique co-working and co-living environment. The primary aim of the HEAD residency was to conceptualise and initiate two to three projects that the HEAD community will champion over the following year. The seminar contributed towards ideation of these projects which are expected to tackle significant challenges at the intersection of healthcare technology access and public health equity. The residency program was part of the "TAS Hub and Good Systems Strategic Partnership" project, funded through an RAI UK: Creating an International Ecosystem for Responsible AI Research and Innovation award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://d3-lab.nicepage.io/HEAD-Residency-Program.html |
| Description | Shonan Meeting 177: Natural Interaction with Humanoid Robots |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The group worked intensively for 4 days and explored possible challenges and jointly developed a research agenda for main research directions in the topic. The meeting establish an international collaboration for follow-up research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://shonan.nii.ac.jp/seminars/177/ |
| Description | Talk Social Applications of Multimodal Cognitive Robots |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This workshop shared synergetic contribution of different research areas e.g., Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet-of-Things (IoT), Robotics, and Social Science to develop innovative and effective research and technologies for the ageing society and assistance in general. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talk and co-design workshop to co-create accessible lab workspaces using robotics and AI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult, University of East Anglia and Heriot Watt University have coordinated this 'Laboratory Access Challenges, Data Capture, and Solutions' workshop to explore the disability access issues faced by laboratory operators and consider new approaches to creating more data to inform solutions. The in-person workshop was divided into two phases: a morning session facilitated by Dr. Dr Katherine Deane (University of East Anglia) focussing on the results of the Access All Areas in Labs survey followed by ideation to explore obvious and unobvious access solutions, and an afternoon session facilitated by Dr. Mauro Dragone (Heriot-Watt University), outlining data capture and analysis techniques following by feedback on their application in a laboratory context and whether a more extensive dataset is required. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/laboratory-access-challenges-data-capture-and-solutions-workshop-tick... |
| Description | Talk at Digital Healthcare Innovation (DHI) Cluster event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 18th October the Healthy Ageing Innovation Cluster meeting will focus on the caregiving/ co-ordination challenge and will cover the following areas. Healthcare framework for Care Homes healthcare-framework-adults-living-care-homes-health-care-home.pdf (www.gov.scot) Care Homes Assessment tool (CHAT) Care Homes Assessment Tool Proof of Concept: Stage 2 Report - Executive Summary - Strathprints · Home - Robobrico & MAAH and tours of National Robotarium Labs Scottish Care Care Home Data and its use in innovation David Cruickshank and Ellen Lynch Scottish Government · The GEARED-UP Project (napier.ac.uk) with Dr Lucy Johnstone (Napier) and Dr Susan Shenkin (Edinburgh) DHI is funded to work with all academic partners in Scotland and this event will coincide with the Care and Robotics Mash Up, who will join us for our meeting at the National Robotarium, Heriot-Watt University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/healthy-ageing-innovation-cluster-meeting-tickets-710188130817?aff=eb... |
| Description | Talk at the 6th IEEE UK and Ireland Robotics and Autonomous Systems Conference, Social Applications of Multimodal Cognitive Robots |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk on Social Applications of Multimodal Cognitive Robots |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk at the first conference on the Healthy Ageing Showcase at Heriot-Watt University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Healthy Ageing Showcase offers an opportunity to hear from the people leading and participating in a range of research projects. These include developing and trialling new and innovative technologies that support and enhance healthy lifestyles, to the ways our homes and urban environments can be designed to encourage opportunities for healthy ageing, to robotic and assistive devices enabling people with different needs to live independently for longer. The event will be opened by Professor Linda Bauld (Chief Social Policy Advisor to the Scottish Government), followed by researchers representing the breadth and depth of activities in healthy ageing at Heriot-Watt. The event will also include a special session led by Katherine Crawford (Chief Executive Officer of Age Scotland) celebrating the involvement of people in shaping research. During the event, there will be an extended break to allow participants to engage with interactive demonstrations and stands. These will cover research from Heriot-Watt as well as opportunities to meet with our community and charity partners. Refreshments will be provided during the break. To register for the event, click here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heriot-watts-healthy-ageing-showcase-tickets-999303312107. This includes an opportunity to provide any access requirements you have. The event is being hosted by Heriot-Watt's Health and Care Technologies Global Research Institute. The institute's goal is to deliver innovative, sustainable, and user-inspired solutions through a co-creative approach. To learn more about Health and Care Technologies at Heriot-Watt, visit https://www.hw.ac.uk/research-enterprise/global-research-institutes/health-and-care-technologies. The event was attended by around 200 persons, including representatives and residents of care homes around Edinburgh. Following the event, Dragone was contacted by the manager of a group of care homes, interested in discussing possible projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://cabs.site.hw.ac.uk/event/heriot-watts-healthy-ageing-showcase/ |
| Description | The Future of Social Care Technology - Implementing Robotics & AI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an online event organised by Skilld for Care, Digital Social Care and the National Care Forum. Invited to give a presentation on the practical barriers and challenges of using emerging technologies in social care. Discussed the scope and work of the Emergence network and introduced the consortium members and their test beds. 6 March 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-of-social-care-technology-implementing-robotics-ai-tickets... |
| Description | The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly participated in the organisation of The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2023 in London UK on 4th July 2023 and joined colleagues from Loughborough University and the National Rehabilitation Centre running an interactive exhibit to enable members of the general public to experiment with telepresence robots and discuss how these could be utlised for daily activities of living for people with lived experience of Fraily and discussed other Emergence Network related topics with the attendees such as safety, regulations and future health and social care workforce development when introducing assistive robots. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/revolutionising-rehabilitation/royal-society-exhibition/ |
| Description | Toyota Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Participation to monthly Toyota Robotics community, and delivery of project update outlining the use of the Toyota Human Support Robot (HSR) in EMERGENCE continuous professional development activities targeting the care workforce. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Trailblazer Projects: Addressing Robotics for Frailty Challenges (18/07/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 34 attendees joined a consortium-wide webinar to hear about the final research outcomes from the projects funded by the first Robtotcs for Frailty Challenge funding call. During the webinar, we considered their impact and the implications of their research for the future of the design and development of intelligent systems and robotics for health and social care. The webinar also included presentations with updates from the projects funded by the second call, followed by presentations to launch two newly funded projects. The presentations prompted open discussions with insights for all the project teams. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.emergencerobotics.net/events-and-network-activities/trailblazer-projects-consortium-even... |
| Description | Training course in robotics for rehabilitation to MSc students from Napier Edinburgh University. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | In February 2024, 46 occupational therapy and physiotherapy second-year MSc (pre reg) students attended an immersive workshop to learn about and gain training in various robotic technologies at the National Robotarium. Followed the training, the team has conducted a user study involving 13 OT students (10 females, 3 males) testing different forms of technology, including tele-presence robotics and 3D mapping, to complete a case study environmental home assessment . The training has been repeated in March 2025 with a new cohort of 12 students (8 females, 4 males). All participants completed three risk assessment simulations (respectively in person; using a tele-presence robot or a 3D virtual tour) in the SHELTER testbed in Napier. The activity is covered by ethics to collect data using multiple methods. These include time measurements, observational notes, recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis, individual questionnaires, to rate ease of use (System Usability Scale - USUS) , usefulness, and perceived safety for each method, and a post simulation focus group discussion. A strong theme throughout these discussions with the students was the educational value they placed on having hands-on opportunities to use cutting-edge technologies like the telepresence robot and 3D virtual tour as part of their occupational therapy training. Students appreciated being able to gain concrete experience with the types of technological tools they anticipate becoming increasingly prevalent in practice as they enter the workforce. "It's likely that technology like this is going to be used then and there mightn't be that many students that have come across it at such a tender age in their OT career." Students recognised the importance of not only learning about these technologies in theory, but actually having the chance to try them out in a supported, supervised, educational context. They felt this type of exposure would give them a competitive edge as they launch their careers in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. "I think it's really beneficial to take part in any research, but specifically this research. I think it's really helpful to keep with current research and in occupational therapy and to be involved in it I think is really valuable and it's something I'll take on with me and to future experiences and it's something I can always refer to and reflect on." Through this experiential learning opportunity, students felt they were gaining not only technical knowledge and skills, but also a mindset of proactive engagement with the technologies shaping the future of the field and profession. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQCeGFJe-Wc |
| Description | Trialling Telepresence Robots in Extra Care and Cultural Settings - Social, Logistic, Technical Challenges and Opportunities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly gave a talk at the Geriatronics Summit 2023 on Sunday 2nd July 2023 titled: "Trialling Telepresence Robots in Extra Care and Cultural Settings - Social, Logistic, Technical Challenges and Opportunities". This has led to new collaborations with the Technical University of Munich and University of Cornell, where we are working on further funding initiatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://geriatronics.mirmi.tum.de/en/geriatronics-summit-2023/ |
| Description | Turing Knowledge Cafe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The EMERGENCE network hosted a knowledge café event in the Cobot Maker Space at the University of Nottingham on 15/09/2022 in conjunction with the Alan Turing Institute Network and the Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute. The focus and intended purpose of the event was to provide opportunities for members of the general public to increase their awareness of AI in healthcare and supporting responsible research and innovation. During the event, participants were introduced to the themes of artificial intelligence and the ways in which AI models are trained and evaluated using data and how that data is collected from research participants to assist researchers in designing, programming, constructing and testing robots. A demonstration of the robots within the Cobot Maker space gave participants the opportunity to see assistive robots in action, after which they were invited to participate in a discussion on the benefits and risks of the robots, how their data is used and how GDPR, and AI regulation, and ethics attempt to minimise these risks. The workshop was also attended by an illustrator, Sam Church, who took notes and produced summary artwork to capture the discussion in a way that maintained elements of expression, emotion and feeling. The Knowledge café worked as a successful forum to help attendees understand what personal data could be collected from assistive robots and how it might be used. This in turn help them to reflect on and articulate concerns in the context of their own lived experiences, in addition to highlighting a range of other potential concerns, as well as opportunities to inform future design of ethical robots. The discussion as captured by the illustrator is being converted into an Ethical Design of Assistive Robotics Technologies card deck which will be used in subsequent workshops and activities to prompt engineers and designers to focus on specific responsible research and innovation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Visit from Care Home organisation, Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Heriot-Watt's team hosted a visit from a delegation from Care Home Edinburgh (https://www.carehomeedinburgh.co.uk), involving interactive demonstrations of robotic concepts, including the RoboBrico robot funded by the network at Heriot-Watt, and discussion of further collaboration especially to pilot the use of robotic technology and the involvement of a number of care homes in the WP4 work stream dedicated to co-create continuous professional development for the care workforce in relation to AI and Robotics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from MND Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Heriot-Watt's team hosted a visit from the chair of MND Scotland, providing interactive demonstrations of robotic technology, including the RoboBrico robot funded vy EMERGENCE, highlighting the work of the network on the skills training work stream, and discussing possible collaborations with MND Scotland |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | White Paper on Security and Privacy in Assistive Robotics: Cybersecurity Challenges for Healthcare |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The UK-RAS white papers serve as a basis for discussing the future technological roadmaps, engaging the wider community and stakeholders, as well as policy makers in assessing the potential social, economic and ethical/legal impact of RAS. This white paper explores the security and privacy needs for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) working in healthcare. RAS devices in the care domain will enable people a greater degree of independence, with less reliance on other people, and this in turn could enable people to remain longer in their own homes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ukras.org.uk/publications/white-papers/security-and-privacy-in-assistive-robotics/ |