ROBOWELL: Nordic model for integration of conversational care robots

This project aims to develop a Nordic Model for integrating social and conversational robots as welfare technologies and actors in care of older adults, addressing challenges posed by the ageing population and the shortage of nursing staff across Nordic countries. Previous research in the Nordic region illustrates the use of welfare technologies, such as mobile phones, alarms and tablets, in maintenance of the autonomy and agency of older adults. However, more complex welfare technologies such as AI-driven technologies, including social and conversational robots will challenge the current practical, ethical, and legal infrastructures, and models around the integration of welfare technologies in the care contexts. ROBOWELL addresses these challenges and investigates:

1. Integration of social and conversational robots in care of older adults through cross-country user studies between Sweden, Norway and Denmark

2. Benefits and tensions across technical, ethical and regulatory aspects of conversational robots in care contexts

3. Impacts and consequences of conversational robots on care workflows

As an outcome of the project, we aim to develop a Nordic Model for the sustainable and ethical integration of social and conversational robots in care.

Research team:
Sanna Kuoppamäki, KTH (PI)
PhD student (TBA)

Project consortium:
Diana Saplacan,  Department of Informatics, Robotics and Intelligent Systems, University of Oslo, Norway (PI, Consortium leader)
Leon Bodenhagen, SDU Robotics, University of Southern Denmark (PI)

Collaborators:
Stockholm Stad -Verklighetslabbet 

Funding: NordForsk: Sustainable health and social care for the elderly