Learning from Carers to inform the Design of Safe Physically Assistive Robots - Insights from a Focus Group Study

Abstract

This research investigates how professional carers physically assist frail older adults. Carers were asked to discuss their approach and steps for providing safe physical assistance and highlight hazards that assistive robots would have to deal with in such situations. The aspects raised by carers indicate that irrespective of the degree of vulnerability of the older adults, carers can evaluate trust and the older adults' ability and willingness to collaborate during the assistive task through multiple modalities. These include tactile, visual and verbal cues, which the carers use to discern a measure of collaboration and adapt their assistance accordingly. Understanding these hazards and their effective collaboration is a vital step towards developing safe, physically assistive robots.