PRIMI: Performance in Robot Interaction via Mental Imagery

Advancing Robots’ Autonomy and Physical Performance for Interaction and Rehabilitation

The next-generation personal robots will possess cognitive and motor intelligence that can enhance human interaction. However, the current AI and robotics paradigms require additional resources to achieve performance and reasoning abilities similar to those of humans. The EU-funded PRIMI project integrates research from neurophysiology, psychology and machine intelligence to formulate models for higher-order cognitive capabilities. The aim is to usher in a new era of autonomous technologies that exhibit enhanced precision, speed and safety in real-time learning and adaptation processes. PRIMI envisions a transformative impact on AI and robotics, accomplished by the development of socially interactive autonomous robots. To validate this vision, prototypes of neuromorphic humanoid robots will undergo clinical pilot studies focusing on stroke rehabilitation.

Funder: Horizon Europe | Website: https://primi-project.eu

PErsonalized Robotics as SErvice Oriented applications - PERSEO

The personal robotics domain is raising new challenges concerning the need for robot behaviour with a high level of personalisation with respect to each user’s needs and preferences.

The EU-funded PERSEO project will train early-stage researchers (ESRS) from the fields of computer science, philosophy, and psychology in how robotics technology can be personalised on the physical, cognitive and social levels. This will help the ESRS understand how to address social, legal and ethical issues that arise with the uptake of personal robots.

Funder: Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions | Website:  https://www.perseo.eu

EMERGENCE - Facilitating the Emergence of Healthcare Robots from Labs into Service

The vision of the Emergence network is to facilitate the creation of a sustainable healthcare robotics eco-system connecting researchers, industry and healthcare providers, in order to build the infrastructure and systems to drive world-class advances in healthcare robotics research and development to support people living with frailty within communities in the UK.

To enable the design and evaluation of healthcare robotic solutions, the network will utilise living lab test beds. Funded feasibility studies will drive co-designed, high-quality research that will lead to technologies capable of transforming community health and care.

Funder: EPSRC | Website: https://www.emergencerobotics.net

I'M-ACTIVE : Intelligent Multimodal Assessment and Coaching Through Identification of Vulnerabilities in older People

Recent research that has shown that intelligent robotic technologies can provide services for independent leaving to older people, promote active and healthy lifestyle, and support social caring of older people. However, adoption and maturity of robotics solutions for social care is currently limited, mostly because of the "technology push" approach, i.e. new devices and robotic platforms are pushed through research and development without considering whether or not it satisfies users' aspirations and needs.

The I'M-ACTIVE project will follow a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach with a strong focus on regular patient and people involvement and engagement that will put people at the core from the beginning to the end. Research in machine intelligence and healthcare sensor technologies will be guided from the beginning by stakeholders and users to create a user-friendly platform specifically designed to offer assistance to older adults at risk of frailty.

The results and experience gained in this project will inform follow-up multidisciplinary research and technical development toward the integration of the I'M-ACTIVE system into the healthcare and specially to increase efficacy and efficiency of general practice in the UK, i.e. managing population health related to complex needs with older people in the community.

Funder: EPSRC | Website: https://www.shu.ac.uk/advanced-wellbeing-research-centre/projects/im-active

Autonomous Learning and Development in Embodied Neuromorphic Systems (ALDENS)

The ALDENS project aims to establish a novel developmental neuromorphic paradigm by combining developmental robotics and neuromorphic computing. This synergy will overcome the limitations of each paradigm individually. Developmental robotics will provide missing learning mechanisms for neuromorphic spiking neural networks, while neuromorphic computing will offer efficient brain-like resources with an accurate representation of the real world. The project will develop and validate methodologies to create an autonomous, flexible, and scalable artificial brain architecture.

Funder: EPSRC