Socially assistive robots have been trialled successfully in a hospital in Paris. The robots assisted patients by helping them with their anxiety, and this also served to relieve pressure on nurses.
The SPRING (Socially Pertinent Robots in Gerontological Healthcare) trial was co-conducted by a team from the National Robotarium in the UK.
There were three waves of testing with robots equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Researchers stated that the AI-enabled the robots to engage naturally with the elderly volunteers at L’Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris.
The robots were also able to understand the requirements of each patient and assist staff at the hospital with routine tasks.
The results show that the robots were able to engage in social interactions such as greeting patients, answering their questions and giving directions.
Critically, the robots also displayed the ability to understand multi-party conversations, as they were able to follow dialogue between a number of individuals simultaneously.
The researchers said that having helpful and socially intelligent robots that are able to hold a natural conversation, answer preliminary screening questions, and decrease the pressure on busy nurses could be extremely beneficial in clinical settings.
The team added that the robots could also reduce the requirement for physical contact between staff and patients, potentially decreasing the infection transmission risk.
AI-powered robots help patients and relieve workload
In a statement, Oliver Lemon, professor of AI and academic co-lead at the National Robotarium, said: “Today’s rapid advances in AI are truly inspiring and open up a world of possibilities for its positive impact on various sectors, including healthcare.
“One of the most significant contributions of robotics and AI is its ability to conserve resources and alleviate human workload, therefore providing valuable new tools for enhancing healthcare delivery.”
“The prospect of robots seamlessly collaborating with hospital staff to enhance the patient experience is now closer to reality.”
Professor Anne-Sophie Rigaud, head of the department at L’Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, said: “Our patients are increasingly interested in robotics and the evolution of hospital services, which they see as the logical evolution of our society.”
“We believe that the ARI robot could in future become an essential element of patient care in hospitals, thanks to its capacity for social interaction and guidance.”
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