Robotics for Frailty Challenge Event
28th September 2022

Introduction to the Healthcare Technologies Theme

Key Speaker Presentation: Philippa Hemmings
Philippa Hemmings is the Head of Healthcare Technologies, supporting research across Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)’s remit which aims to accelerate translation to healthcare applications. 

Introduction to the EMERGENCE Network

EMERGENCE Team Presentation: Prof. Praminda Caleb-Solly
Project Lead for EMERGENCE at the University of Nottingham

Overview of EMERGENCE  Work Packages

EMERGENCE Team Presentation
Prof. Mark Hawley,
Project Co-investigator at the University of Sheffield

Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo,
Project Co-investigator at Sheffield Hallam University

Prof. Farshid Amirabdollahian,
Project Co-investigator at the University of Hertfordshire

Assoc Prof. Mauro Dragone,
Project Co-investigator at Heriot-Watt University

The Robotics Assistant for the Aging: The Unbalanced Struggle between Benefits and Challenges

Key Speaker Presentation: Dr. Elizabeth Mestheneos
Dr.Elizabeth Mestheneos promotes the work of 50plus Hellas and the Hellenic Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics to support the human rights of older people and ensure their active participation in society. . She undertakes research primarily in areas of Social Policy, particularly ageing. An ongoing project for HAGG is the 'Greek e-library for gerontology and geriatrics.' She is a past president of AGE Platform Europe and continues to promote their mission. She works in advisory and evaluation roles at EU and national level and is involved in the issue of new technologies in the context of ageing 

The Human Support Robot (HSR) as Open Innovation Platform for Enhanced Self-Reliance and Caregiver Support

Key Speaker Presentation: Mark Van Loock

Mark is a technology manager at Toyota Motor Europe’s Robotics group, where he is coordinating the European activities, related to Toyota’s Human Support Robot (HSR). The HSR is used by 15 labs in 7 countries as an open innovation platform, with the ambition to contribute to Toyota’s vision to create “Mobility for All” and “Happiness for All”.

In this coordination role, Mark can fall back on 17 years of experience in collaborative R&D, in diverse areas, including safe service robot navigation, fall detection for elderly and robot ethics, with special attention to real-life validation of the developed technology (in technology museums, in care facilities, at people’s homes).

An H&C Innovation Community

Key Speaker Presentation: Michael Gray

Michael is currently the Implementation Lead for the Health and Social Care Data-Driven Innovation (HSCDDI) programme being co-ordinated by the University of Edinburgh across south-east Scotland. He is responsible for ensuring the programme’s elements combine effectively to fulfil its vision to create an innovation hub where public, private and third sectors collaborate to realise data-driven advances in the delivery of health and social care.

Michael has extensive experience across the health and care sector - as a clinician, service management, and business enterprise – giving a rich insight into the opportunities and challenges offered by innovation.

Real-life Lessons on Deploying Service Robots in Healthcare Scenarios

Key Speaker Presentation: Sara Cooper

Sara Cooper has been a robotics software engineer at PAL Robotics since early 2020, working especially for software development of the ARI social robot and its associated European projects. She obtained a degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2018 at the Mondragon Unibertsitatea (Spain); and in 2019, a master's degree in Robotics at the Heriot-Watt University (UK). Her main interests are human-robot interaction and healthcare robotics.

Overview of EMERGENCE  Research Outputs

EMERGENCE Team Presentation

Prof. Mark Hawley,
Project Co-investigator at the University of Sheffield

Dr. Stephen Potter,
Project Researcher at the University of Sheffield

Announcement of Pilot Project Funding Call

EMERGENCE Team Presentation
Prof. Praminda Caleb-Solly,
Project Lead at the University of Nottingham

Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo,
Project Co-investigator at Sheffield Hallam University