WS#36 Healthcare Robotics in Germany: insights from deployment of assistive robots for transport and interaction

Françoise Siepel (University of Twente), Birgit Graf (Fraunhofer IPA),Maritim: room Hamburg/ Bonn

iCal

Questions to be answered

How do we bridge the gap from development towards deployment in clinical settings?
What are the key challenges the healthcare professional faces in implementing robotics in the healthcare setting? What would help increase acceptance?
What role do we see assistive robots playing in healthcare over the next 10-20 years?
What are the potential risks and benefits of leveraging generative AI to enhance robot decision-making and natural interactions in healthcare and assistive robotics?

Description

This workshop offers an essential platform for gaining deep insights into deployment of robotics in healthcare, directly from technology providers and healthcare professionals across Europe together with a future perspective. Attendees will benefit from knowledge exchange, focusing on key applications and overcoming barriers to robotic integration in healthcare. Critical aspects, such as European reimbursement models and the importance of networking for accelerating innovation, will be utilized.

Participants will gain:

Future perspectives and practical insights into the deployment of robotics in healthcare
Access to key success stories, showcasing how robotics improves care provision
Opportunities for knowledge transfer, networking, and collaboration across Europe.

The main topics are:

Clinical Deployment Insights: Experiences from practitioners across Europe.
Knowledge Transfer: Exchange of expertise and best practices across regions.
Key Application Aspects: Focus on real-world implementations.
Barriers and Constraints: Challenges in robotics deployment in healthcare
Success Stories: Case studies demonstrating successful robotics integration.

Organisation of the WS

16:00 - 16:10 Welcome & Introduction
16:10 - 16:20 Abilities of current products and possible fields of application (Alexander Pröll – Entrance Robotics GmbH, Germany)
16:20 - 16:40 Interaction robots for hospitals and care homes:
Experience with the Social Robot 'navel' (Dr. Judith Schoch – Evangelische Heimstiftung, Germany)
The Future of Social Robots (Thomas Wittenberg – Fraunhofer IIS, Germany)
16:40 - 17:00 Delivery robots for hospitals and care homes:
Experience with a food delivery robot and future application concepts (Dr. Silja Tuschy & Thomas Schneider – University Hospital Bonn, Germany)
The future of delivery robots – mobile manipulation as a key ability (Dr. Birgit Graf – Fraunhofer IPA, Germany)
17:00 - 17:20 Discussion

Intended outcome

The event will result in a comprehensive report, combining key insights and recommendations for future robotics applications. This report will be of critical relevance to technology providers, clinicians, policymakers, and other healthcare stakeholders, ensuring that the future of healthcare robotics is shaped by collaborative, and innovative approaches.

End-Users: Gain a clearer understanding of the benefits and practical applications of robotics in healthcare, facilitating informed decision-making and technology adoption.
SMEs: Identify market needs, explore collaboration opportunities, and access business growth insights based on real-world use cases.
Researchers: Benefit from exposure to cutting-edge developments and direct feedback from healthcare professionals, opening new avenues for research and innovation.