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In a laboratory in northwest London, a set of three black metal robotic hands are in motion on an engineering workbench, featuring four fingers and a thumb that open and close in a slow, deliberate manner, with joints that mimic those of a human hand.

Rich Walker, the director of Shadow Robot, the company responsible for creating these robotic hands, jokingly remarks that their goal is not to build a Terminator-like robot.

With his bespectacled appearance, long hair, and beard, Walker presents himself as a laid-back individual who is clearly enthusiastic about showcasing his company's work.

The ultimate objective of Shadow Robot is to develop a robot that can assist individuals with various tasks, effectively serving as a general-purpose servant that can perform household chores and other duties.

However, a more pressing concern is addressing the escalating crisis in social care, a significant challenge facing the UK.

According to a report by the charity Skills for Care, there were approximately 131,000 vacancies for adult care workers in England last year, while Age UK estimates that around two million people aged 65 and over in England are living with unmet care needs.

By the year 2050, it is projected that one in four people in the UK will be aged 65 or over, which may further strain the care system.

This is where robots potentially come into play as a solution.

The previous government invested £34m in the development of robots that could be used to provide care, stating in 2019 that autonomous systems like robots would become an integral part of daily life within the next 20 years.

The idea of relying on robots to care for vulnerable individuals raises questions about the feasibility and safety of such a solution, particularly given the potential risks associated with trusting a strong machine with the well-being of elderly relatives or oneself.

Japan offers a glimpse into a potential future where robots coexist with humans, particularly in care homes.

Ten years ago, the Japanese government initiated a program to subsidize robot manufacturers, encouraging the development and use of robots in care homes, driven in part by the country's aging population and shortage of care home staff.

Dr. James Wright, an AI specialist and visiting professor at Queen Mary University of London, spent seven months observing the use of robots in a Japanese care home, focusing on their effectiveness in this setting.

The study involved three types of robots: HUG, a walking frame designed by Fuji Corporation that assisted carers with lifting people; Paro, a robot that resembled a baby seal and was designed to stimulate dementia patients; and Pepper, a humanoid robot that could provide instructions and demonstrate exercises.

Paro was programmed to respond to touch through movement and sound, while Pepper was used to lead exercise classes in the care home.

Initially, Dr. Wright had high expectations for the robots' potential to support care workers, but his observations revealed a different reality.

Instead of seamlessly integrating the robots into their work, care home staff found themselves spending more time troubleshooting and maintaining the robots than anticipated.

Dr. Wright discovered that the care workers' biggest challenge was not the robots themselves, but rather the time-consuming tasks of cleaning, recharging, and troubleshooting them.

As a result, the care workers eventually decided that the robots were more trouble than they were worth and used them less frequently, citing their own busy schedules as the primary reason.

The robots' limitations became apparent, with HUG requiring constant repositioning to avoid obstructing residents, Paro causing distress to one resident who had become overly attached, and Pepper's exercise routines being difficult for residents to follow due to its short stature and high-pitched voice.

The developers of the robots have since responded to Dr. Wright's findings, with the creators of HUG refining their design to make it more compact and user-friendly, and the developer of Paro citing clinical evidence of the robot's therapeutic effects.

The team behind Pepper has also updated the robot's software, now owned by a different company, in an effort to address the issues raised by Dr. Wright's study.

Despite the challenges, Rich Walker of Shadow Robot remains convinced that robots can play a vital role in care, arguing that the next generation of robots will be more capable and effective.

Praminda Caleb-Solly, a professor at the University of Nottingham, is working to bridge the gap between robot development and real-world application, establishing a network called Emergence to connect robot makers with businesses and individuals who will use them.

Through this network, Caleb-Solly aims to gather feedback from elderly individuals on what they would like to see in robots, with responses ranging from voice interaction and non-threatening designs to practical features like self-cleaning and adaptability.

One common theme that emerged from the feedback was the desire for robots to be low-maintenance and capable of adapting to changing needs, with one individual stating, "We don't want to look after the robot – we want the robot to look after us."

Some businesses in the UK are already testing robots in care settings, such as Caremark, which has been trialing a voice-activated robot called Genie with some of its clients in Cheltenham.

One user with early-onset dementia reported enjoying interactions with Genie, including asking it to play Glenn Miller songs.

However, reactions to Genie have been mixed, with some users loving it and others being less enthusiastic, according to director Michael Folkes.

Folkes emphasizes that the goal of using robots in care is not to replace human carers, but rather to enable them to devote more time to caring for individuals.

Rich Walker highlights another significant challenge in developing robots for care: creating a robotic hand that can interact with the world in a human-like way.

Walker explains that a robot needs to possess human-like dexterity to be truly useful, and the robotic hand his company has developed features 100 sensors and can move its fingers smoothly and precisely.

The robotic hand is made from metal and plastic, with each finger capable of touching its thumb in a smooth, precise motion, finishing with an 'OK' gesture.

The development of such robotic hands is crucial for creating robots that can assist with daily tasks and provide care, and Walker's company is at the forefront of this effort.

As research and development continue, it remains to be seen whether robots will become a viable solution for addressing the care crisis in the UK.

However, with the UK's aging population and the growing demand for care, it is clear that innovative solutions like robots will be essential for meeting the needs of vulnerable individuals.

The key to success will lie in creating robots that are not only capable and efficient but also user-friendly and adaptable to the needs of care recipients.

By focusing on the development of robots that can provide meaningful support and assistance, companies like Shadow Robot and researchers like Dr. Wright are working towards a future where robots can play a vital role in improving the lives of elderly individuals and those in need of care.

As the technology continues to evolve, it will be essential to address the challenges and limitations of robots in care settings, ensuring that they are developed and used in a way that prioritizes the needs and well-being of care recipients.

A robotic system has demonstrated its capabilities by solving a Rubik's Cube with one hand, showcasing its dexterity.

However, the robot still faces significant challenges in performing more intricate tasks, such as utilizing scissors or handling fragile objects with precision.

According to Mr. Walker, the way humans use scissors is a complex process that involves subtle and precise movements, making it difficult to replicate with a robot.

Mr. Walker explains that the challenge lies in programming a robot to mimic the human sense of touch and adjust its movements based on feedback, a crucial aspect of tasks like cutting with scissors.

Mr. Walker's team, in collaboration with 26 other engineering firms, is working on designing a robotic hand that resembles the human hand as part of the Robot Dexterity Programme.

This project is one of several initiatives supported by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), a government agency that funds high-risk, high-reward scientific research with the potential to transform society.

Professor Jenny Read, the project leader, notes that her team is studying animal movement to inform the design of not only robotic hands but also to reimagine the way robots are constructed, with a focus on efficiency and grace.

Professor Read believes that the elegance and efficiency of animal bodies can serve as a model for robotic design, where "gracefulness" is synonymous with efficiency.

Guggi Kofod, a Danish engineer turned entrepreneur, is developing artificial muscles for robots that can replace traditional motors.

Kofod's company, Pliantics, has made significant progress in creating a durable material that can mimic the properties of real muscles, marking a crucial breakthrough in the development of artificial muscles.

Kofod's motivation for this project stems from personal experiences, having witnessed the challenges faced by caregivers of dementia patients.

He explains that his goal is to create systems that can provide comfort and support to these patients, making their lives more manageable and improving their overall well-being.

Kofod's vision is to develop robots that can assist caregivers, rather than replacing them, and provide patients with a decent quality of life.

The artificial muscles designed by Pliantics are made from a soft, flexible material that contracts and expands when an electric current is applied, simulating the properties of real muscles.

As part of the ARIA project, Kofod is collaborating with Shadow Robot to develop a human-sized robotic hand with artificial muscles, aiming to achieve a more precise and delicate grip.

The ultimate goal is for the robotic hand to detect subtle changes in pressure and adjust its grip accordingly, mimicking the sensitivity of human fingertips.

Dr. Wright, who observed robots in Japan, raises concerns that the increasing use of robots in caregiving could have unintended consequences, potentially making life more challenging for human caregivers.

Dr. Wright argues that the economic viability of robot-based caregiving might lead to larger, standardized care facilities with lower-paid staff, ultimately diminishing the quality of care provided to patients.

According to Dr. Wright, this scenario would undermine the initial vision of robots augmenting human caregivers, instead reducing their role to mere maintenance of the robotic systems.

In contrast, Professor Gopal Ramchurn of the University of Southampton is more optimistic, anticipating a significant demand for caregivers as the population ages and the workforce faces a deficit.

As the CEO of Responsible AI, Ramchurn is working to ensure that artificial intelligence systems are safe, reliable, and trustworthy, acknowledging the need for careful consideration in the development of these technologies.

Ramchurn cites Elon Musk's Optimus humanoid robot as an example of the rapid progress being made in robotics, highlighting the need for proactive planning and regulation.

He emphasizes the importance of anticipating the future of robotics and artificial intelligence, rather than waiting for large tech companies to drive the agenda without input from stakeholders.

Ramchurn argues that now is the time to establish regulations that ensure robots serve human needs, rather than the other way around.

He stresses the need for preparedness in the face of an impending future where robots will play an increasingly prominent role.

Additional reporting for this article was provided by Florence Freeman, with the top image credit attributed to Jodi Lai/BBC.