Innovate UK Funding for Assistive Robotic System will Offer a 'New Perspective on Ageing'

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A consortium of leading researchers, care providers and robotics experts have received a major award of over £2m from Innovate UK to develop a modular robotic solution for the home to revolutionise long-term care by giving people the choice to stay independent in their own homes as they age.

The Office for Budget Responsibility recognises that by 2065, 26% of the population of England and Wales would be more than 65 years old, up from 18% today. With increasing numbers of older adults needing assistance in later life, there is a challenge for society as to how best provide and maintain high quality support, and ensure that people can stay integrated and valued members of their communities.

The CHIRON project is developing a connected system of modular robotic components, which can be adapted to different assistive tasks. CHIRON's various components will be designed to be mixed and matched. This will enable the person using CHIRON to undertake a wide range of domestic and self-care tasks independently, which for some people could mean that their carer would then have more time to spend providing valuable social companionship. The project will create a prototype that will lead to the development of a commercially viable product.

The CHIRON consortium is led by Designability, specialists in assistive technology solutions that enhance people's lives. The key technology partners are Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) and Shadow Robot Company, experts in conducting pioneering research and development in robotics. Award winning social enterprise care provider, Three Sisters Care will bring user-centred design to the core of the project, with Telemetry Associates providing project management support. Smart Homes & Buildings Association, specialists in telecare and assisted living, will bring sector knowledge to the project to support commercialisation.

The project will draw upon the consortium's expertise of working with end-users, clinicians, and health and social care providers, to develop an effective robotic solution that offers adaptability to a person's changing needs.

Designability Director, Professor Nigel Harris said, "We are tremendously pleased to contribute to this work, focusing on the Long Term Care Revolution. This project is all about technological innovation and perfectly complements other work that looks at social innovation."

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