Meet Your Future Caregivers: Robots That Clean, Exercise, and Care for You!

In a laboratory in north-west London, engineers are working on robots that could help people in their homes, especially older adults who need care. These robots have hands that look and move like human hands, with four fingers and a thumb. Rich Walker, the director of Shadow Robot, says their goal is to create robots that make life easier, not scary robots like in movies. He wants these robots to be able to do chores around the house and help with daily tasks.

The UK faces a big problem: there are not enough care workers for older adults. Last year, there were over 130,000 job openings for adult care workers in England, and about two million people aged 65 and older did not get the care they needed. By 2050, one in four people in the UK will be 65 or older, which will make the need for care even greater. The government has invested £34 million in developing robots that could help with care. They believe that in the next 20 years, robots will become a normal part of life, helping people at home and at work.

Japan is already using robots in care homes. Dr James Wright, an AI specialist, studied three types of robots in a Japanese care home. The first robot, HUG, helps people move from their beds to wheelchairs. The second robot, Paro, looks like a baby seal and is designed to comfort people with dementia. The third robot, Pepper, can lead exercise classes and give instructions. However, Dr Wright found that these robots were not always helpful. Care workers spent a lot of time cleaning and fixing the robots, and some residents did not like them. For example, Paro made one resident upset because they became too attached to it, and Pepper's voice was too high-pitched for people to hear.

The companies that make these robots are working to improve them. They want robots to be easier to use and more friendly. Some people want robots that can talk and look cute, while others want robots that can clean and charge themselves. In the UK, some businesses are testing small robots like Genie, which can play music and talk to people. Some people enjoy using Genie, but others do not like it as much.

One of the biggest challenges is making robot hands that are as good as human hands. Rich Walker and other engineers are working on hands that are strong and flexible, with sensors that help them move smoothly. They want the hands to be able to do delicate tasks, like picking up small objects or using scissors.

Some engineers are also working on artificial muscles for robots. These muscles are made from soft materials that can stretch and contract like real muscles. The goal is for robots to be able to hold things gently and know when to stop squeezing, just like human hands do.

There are concerns that robots could make life harder for care workers. Some experts worry that robots might take over, leading to bigger care homes and lower pay for workers. But others believe that robots are needed because there are not enough people to care for the growing number of older adults.

As robots become more common, it is important to create rules to make sure they are safe and helpful. Experts say that now is the time to make sure robots work for people, not the other way around.