Doctors to use remotely controlled robot to access patients thanks to technology pioneered in Scotland

Doctors are to use a remotely operated robot to give check ups to care home residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions.

The pilot will use technology pioneered by The National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and uses machine learning and artificial intelligence.

It will see health practitioners control a robot over the internet to interact with residents in facilities run by Blackwood Homes and Care in Scotland.

Clinicians will be able to see through the eyes of the robot, move around the room or between rooms and operate its arms and hands to carry out more complex assessments.

Dr Mauro Dragone with Toyota’s Human Support Robot.

It can also operate semi-autonomously 24/7.

Toyota’s Human Support Robot will be used by the researchers alongside commercially available tele-presence robots.

The developers believe it can help those with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive impairments by providing regular monitoring and health assessments.

The research was led by Dr Mauro Dragone from the National Robotarium alongside Dr Mario Parra Rodriguez from the University of Strathclyde.

Dr Dragone said: “With gaps between assessments lengthening, the care and support that is being prescribed to assist vulnerable people may become unsuitable as an individual’s physical and cognitive abilities change over time.”

He said the prototype robot however can carry out “a thorough, non-intrusive assessment” and will allow carers to “to spot cognitive decline more quickly”.

He added that the assessment can be “conducted without the patient leaving home or the clinician leaving their office”.

He added: “This has multiple benefits allowing clinicians but also carers and occupational therapists to spot cognitive decline more quickly, assessing how an individual is managing at home and adapting their treatment or support packages to their individual needs.

“This can have a long-term positive impact on the health of supported people.”

Dr Rodriguez said: “The experience of inhabiting a distant robot through which I can remotely guide, assess, and support vulnerable adults affected by devastating conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, grants me confidence that challenges we are currently experiencing to mitigate the impact of such diseases will soon be overcome through revolutionary technologies.”

Colin Foskett, head of innovation at Blackwood Homes and Care, said: “Blackwood is always looking for solutions that help our customers to live more independently whilst promoting choice and control for the individual.”

He added that robotics have “the potential to improve independent living” and that the research will “aid independent living and improve outcomes for our customers”.

The National Robotarium is supported by funds from both the UK and Scottish Governments.

The system was demonstrated for the first time to UK Government Minister Iain Stewart during a visit to the National Robotarium’s construction site.

Mr Stewart said: ​“It was fascinating to visit the National Robotarium and see first-hand how virtual teleportation technology could revolutionise healthcare and assisted living.

“Backed by £21 million UK Government City Region Deal funding, this cutting-edge research centre is a world leader for robotics and AI, bringing jobs and investment to the area.”

“Across Scotland we are investing more than £1.5 billion into city and region deals, helping communities to build back better from the pandemic."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.