Humanoid robots are not limited to factories and warehouses only. In fact, now they are actually entering our day-to-day lives. This idea once seemed quite sci-fi and hard to believe. But not anymore. And that’s because these robots are now being tested to be used for taking care of elderly people. Yes, that’s true! A number of tech companies are experimenting with how these robots can be deployed in a variety of sectors like healthcare or education, etc. 

U.S.-based humanoid robotics company Realbotix has partnered with Bloom Procurement Services to launch a pilot program. The purpose of this pilot program is to test socially assistive robots in care settings in Northeast England. The company took this initiative in order to reduce loneliness among older people and improve their well-being. Moreover, the initiative also aims to provide additional support for older adults along with meeting the ever-growing demand for caregivers.

As part of the partnership, Realbotix has been accredited as a supplier on Bloom’s procurement marketplace. Wondering what that means? Well, that means the company will be able to pursue public sector opportunities across the UK through a compliant procurement process. The pilot will initially focus on elderly care facilities in Northeast England.

It is worth noting that the robots are designed to assist caregivers. The company doesn’t aim to replace human caregivers at all. These robots will be able to engage residents through natural conversations and maintain eye contact. Moreover, these robots will be capable of displaying lifelike facial expressions and offering personalized interactions, too. And do you know what the best part is? The robots won’t be limited to offering companionship only. In fact, the robots will support cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being of the residents as well. 

The evidence-based pilot will measure several outcomes, including resident engagement, cognitive health indicators, staff feedback, and the program’s overall impact on reducing loneliness and improving quality of life. The findings will help determine whether socially assistive robots can play a larger role in supporting elderly care services.

The project comes as many countries, including the UK, face growing challenges linked to ageing populations and shortages of healthcare and social care workers. These pressures have increased interest in technologies that can provide meaningful social interaction while easing the burden on care staff.

Realbotix Chief Executive Officer Andrew Kiguel said the partnership marks an important step in the company’s expansion into the UK public sector. As per Andrew, this step will support the company’s goal of using embodied artificial intelligence to deliver positive social impact. He further said that the increasing demand for technologies that are able to create a genuine human connection makes this initiative way more timely.

Founder and Executive Director of Bloom, Adam Jacobs, said that the organization is committed to helping public sector institutions that are capable of providing better outcomes. As per Jacobs, this pilot will evaluate how an AI-powered humanoid robot can help reduce isolation and improve the well-being of older adults. 

If the pilot proves to be successful, it would definitely be extremely beneficial for Realbotix. The company would be able to deploy its humanoid robots and AI avatar technology in multiple public sectors, including healthcare and education, etc., across the UK. And that’s because, in these sectors, the need for social interaction and personalized support is increasing rapidly.