Ethics, Safety & Regulations

The resources in this section have been selected to support researchers, designers and developers build an understanding of the ethical, safety and regulatory considerations for the integration of assistive technologies to support frailty and healthy ageing. 

3.1 The importance of ethics, safety and regulations for assistive robotics

This section introduces the specfic ethical seaftey and regulatory challenges for the development of assistive robotics both generally and within the healthcare sector. 

UK-RAS White paper on security and privacy in assistive robotics:

Cybersecurity challeges for healthcare

Parlimentary briefing:

Robotics in social care

ARIAA:

Ethics and Technology: Technology in Aged Care

Assistive technology: definition and safe use

Medicines & Healthcare products: Regulatory Agency

The future of assistive robots

Robots have made their mark for ‘dull, dirty and dangerous’ tasks, as the saying goes. But when it comes to working closely with people, there’s still a way to go. Dr Gerard Canal explores the future for assistive robots designed to help older people live independently for longer. 

Social Assistive Robotics: An ethical and political inquiry through the lens of freedom

Júlia Pareto & Mark Coeckelbergh

Published 15 July 2024

Technology to support ageing in place: key messages for policymakers and funders

Beyond the metal flesh: Understanding the intersection between bio and AI ethics for robotics in healthcare

Auxane Boch,Seamus Ryan,Alexander Kriebitz,Lameck Mbangula Amugongo & Christoph Lütge

Published 01 August 2023

Technological risks and ethical implications of using robots in long-term care

Lillian Hung, Jim Mann& Joey Wong 

Published 17 June 2022

The ethical issues of social assistive robotics: A critical literature review

Júlia Pareto Boada, Begoña Román Maestre, Carme Torras Genís

Published November 2021

Designing digital technologies and safeguards for improving activities and wellbeing for ageing in place

Helene Fournier, Irina Kondratova & Heather Molyneaux 

Published 25 September 2020

Towards trustworthy AI for Human-Robot interaction and decision making

Professor Elizabeth Black, King's College London

Online Conference on Robotics for Healthy Ageing
Seminar 4: Trustworthy AI for Human-Robot interaction and decision making


2nd April 2025

Recording

3.2 Ethical considerations for the integration of technologies to support healthy ageing

The resources in this section takes a closer look at the specific ethical considerations for the integration of technologies to support frailty and healthy ageing. 

Nuffield Council Bioethics:

The future of ageing: ethical considerations for research and innovation

Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Implementing Assistive Technologies in Healthcare

Eleni Gkiolnta, Debopriyo Roy & George F. Fragulis 

Published 27 January 2025

Identification of Ethical Issues and Practice Recommendations Regarding the Use of Robotic Coaching Solutions for Older Adults: Narrative Review

Wearable technologies for Healthy Ageing: Prospects, Challenges and Ethical Considerations

S. Canali, A. Ferretti, V. Schiaffonati & Alessandro Blasimme  

Published 21 February 2024

Ethical considerations of digital health technology in older adult care

M G Finco, Nabiel Mir, Gillian Gresham, Megan Huisingh-Scheetz

Published January 2024

Mapping ethical issues in the use of smart home technologies to care for older persons: A systematic review

Ethics and acceptance of smart homes for older adults

Pireh Pirzada, Adriana Wilde, Gayle Helane Doherty & David Harris-Birtill

Published 09 July 2021

Ethical issues in assistive ambient living technologies for ageing well

Ethical design and application of Assistive Robotics

Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly, University of Nottingham

Online Conference on Robotics for Healthy Ageing
Seminar 6: Robotics ethics, safety and standards


2nd April 2025

Recording

3.3 Safety considerations for the integration of technologies to support healthy ageing

The resources in this section takes a closer look at the specific safety and security considerations for the integration of technologies to support frailty and healthy ageing. 


Addressing privacy concerns with wearable health monitoring technology

Exploring the Role of LLMs for Supporting Older Adults: Opportunities and Concerns

Sidharth Kaliappan, Abhay Sheel Anand, Koustuv Saha & Ravi Karkar

Published 14 November 2024

Privacy beyond data: Assessment and mitigation of privacy risks in robotics technology for elderly care

Reinhard Grabler, Sabine Theresia Koeszegi 

Published 28 November 2024

Co-designing Generative AI Technologies with Older Adults to Support Daily Tasks

Samantha Chan, Ruby Liu, Anastasia K. Ostrowski, Manasi Vaidya, Samantha Brady, Luke Yoquinto, Lisa D'Ambrosio, Wazeer Zulfikar, Natasha Maniar, Taylor Patskanick, Joanne Leong, Nataliya Kosmyna, Joseph Coughlin, and Pattie Maes  

Published 10 September 2024

Artificial Intelligence in Long-Term Care: Technological Promise, Aging Anxieties and Sociotechnical Ageism

Barbara Barbosa Neves, Alan Petersen & Maho Omori  

Published 17 February 2023

Cybersecurity, safety and robots: Strengthening the link between cybersecurity and safety in the context of care robots

Eduard Fosch-Villaronga, Tobias Mahler 

Published July 2021

Safety Assessment Review of a Dressing Assistance Robot

Daniel Delgado Bellamy, Gregory Chance, Praminda Caleb-Solly & Sanja Dogramadzi 

Published 14 June 2021

Safety Assessment of Rehabilitation Robots: A review identifying safety skills and current knowledge gaps

Users' ambivalent sense of security with humanoid robots in healthcare

Linda Nyholm, Regina Santamaki-Fischer & Lisbeth Fagerstrom

Published 24 February 2021

Assistive robotics safety and standards

Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly, University of Nottingham

Online Conference on Robotics for Healthy Ageing
Seminar 6: Robotics ethics, safety and standards


2nd April 2025

Recording

Social robot and IoT technologies in prevention, monitoring and rehabilitation of neurodegenerative diseases

Professor Filippo Cavallo, University of Florence

EMERGENCE Trailblazers Webinar: Future Innovations in Robotics


12th September 2023

Recording

3.4 Regulatory considerations for the integration of technologies to support healthy ageing

The resources in this section takes a closer look at the specific regulatory considerations for the integration of technologies to support frailty and healthy ageing. 


Brightwell:

The future of ageing in an uncertain world

Regulations for medical devices

Explore the regulations and best practice principles related to AI and digital technology in health and care

Regulations for non-medical devices

Explore the regulations and best practice principles related to AI and digital technology in health and care

Exploring the Landscape of Standards and Guidelines in AgeTech Design and Development: Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis

Regulating smart healthcare robots: the European approach

Tom Goffin and Sofia Palmieri 

Published 16 July 2024

Privacy and Regulatory Issues in Wearable Health Technology

Rabai Bouderhem

Published 15 November 2023

Regulation and innovation nder the 4th industrial revolution: The case os a healthcare robot, HAL by Cyberdyne

Michiko Iizuka & Yoko Ikeda

Published December 2021

Redefining safety in light of human-robot interaction: A critical review of current standards and regulations

Standards and regulations for physically assistive robots

Praminda Caleb-Solly, Chris Harper and Sanja Dogramadzi 

Published 6th March 2021

The importance of meaningful frameworks for development

Professor Farshid Amirabdollahain, University of Hertfordshire

Online Conference on Robotics for Healthy Ageing
Seminar 6: Robotics ethics, safety and standards


2nd April 2025

Recording

3.5 Guidance and Tools

Data compliance checklist for developers

The legal requirements you must take into consideration when using health and care data as a developer of digital health technologies. 

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)

NHS Digital Services

BS 8611:2023 Robots and robotic devices. 

Ethical design and application of robots and robotic systems guide

The nature of trust in robotics-enabled assistance: Reflections from EMERGENCE

Professor Praminda Caleb-Solly, University of Nottingham

Online Conference on Robotics for Healthy Ageing
Seminar 4: Trustworthy AI for Human-Robot interaction and decision making


2nd April 2025

Recording

Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics

Emma Glass & Takiyah Williams, BSI Group


"The power of standards in healthcare innovation"



Professor Alan Winfield, University of the West of England


"Ethical standards in robotics and AI: What they are and why they matter"

Expert Webinar Series - Webinar 1


8th May 2024

Recording

Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics

Professor Ronald Arkin, Georgia Tech


"Forays into ethics, social robotics and healthcare"



Elaine Gemmell, InnoScot Health


"Regulatory challenges for healthcare"

Expert Webinar Series - Webinar 2


3rd July 2024

Recording

Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics

Professor Jim Torresen, University of Oslo


"Ethical considerations for robots supporting independent living of older people"



Dr. Natalie Leesakul, University of Nottingham


"The future of regulations for embodied-AI in health and social care"

Expert Webinar Series - Webinar 3


11th September 2024

Recording

Safety, regulatory and ethical considerations for the integration of assistive robotics

Sean Clarkson, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber


"Driving adoption and spread of innovation: Key considerations"



Clive Gilbert, Policy Connect


"Smarter homes for independent living"

Expert Webinar Series - Webinar 4


13th November 2024

Recording