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Robotic care

Author
Team Zorg Enablers
Published on
24-11-2021
Category
Trends | Control & Monitoring

 

“Robots will play an important role in providing physical assistance and even companionship for the elderly”

— Bill Gates

Definition

Robotic care deploys robotics to support patients, care professionals or informal care providers. The term does not include technological innovations in robotic operations because those take place in a clinical setting.

 

Application & benefits

Care robots can fulfil various roles. They can monitor patients who live independently or support them in physical activities [1-3]. The robots can also offer companionship and help combat loneliness [4-7]. Many robots combine practical and social roles. In addition, robots can provide insight into the well-being of the patient by collecting, processing and analysing data [8]. Patients and seniors are able to live independently for longer with a better quality of life as a result. Robots increase autonomy, self-reliance and mental well-being of the individual [9, 10]. Care robots have advantages over human professionals: they are available 24/7, have endless patience and do not make mistakes [11]. Ultimately, care robots unburden loved ones, informal care providers and care professionals [12, 13].

 

Market

The total market value of robotic healthcare systems, which includes surgical robots, amounted to $8.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow to $28.4 billion by 2026. This is partially due to positive changes in attitudes about the use of robots as well as the fact of (double) ageing [14]. The market value of robotic care is on the rise as well with an expected increase from $650 million in 2019 to $1.5 billion in 2027 [13, 15]. Robotic care applications are expected to alleviate care professionals from 60% of care-related activities by 2040, especially in the homes of seniors.

 

Driving forces

Increased awareness and growing acceptance
New technological capabilities
Increasing pressure on the healthcare system

Hindering forces

Lack of awareness and reluctance among potential users
Ethical considerations
High costs (development, purchase, and maintenance)

Robots are becoming more widely accessible and of better quality. Robots that support human interaction alleviate the pressure on the healthcare system. This became clear during the corona crisis: robots were able to keep lonely seniors company [20]. Robots can also support by performing chores, which is leading to their increased acceptance. When ethical and privacy issues are resolved, the door to large-scale implementation opens.

 

Conclusion

Applications in robotic care are becoming more advanced and reliable. The need for an alternative to overloaded healthcare professionals and informal care providers is growing and large-scale adoption of robotic care is just a matter of time. Robotic care ultimately leads to an autonomous system that enhances healthcare for the patient, improves the healthcare professional’s experience and reduces healthcare costs.

References

  1. Zorgrobot.nl, Zorgrobot, robot die helpt met zorg verlening of sociaal contact, 2018 [Available from: https://robots.nu/nl/zorgrobot]
  2. Bakri M, Ismail A, Hashim M, Safar M, editors, A Review on Service Robots: Mechanical Design and Localization System. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, IOP Publishing, 2019
  3. Jeong, S., Aoyama, H., Takahara, S. & Takaoka, Y., Design of an Indoor Robotic Walking Care Device for Daily-Activity Activation of the Elderly, Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, 2021.
  4. Abdi J, Al-Hindawi A, Ng T, Vizcaychipi MP., Scoping review on the use of socially assistive robot technology in elderly care, BMJ open. 2018;8(2):e018815-e.
  5. Koh IS, Kang HS., Effects of Intervention Using PARO on the Cognition, Emotion, Problem Behavior, and Social Interaction of Elderly People with Dementia, Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing. 2018;29(3):300-9.
  6. Hoorn JF., From Lonely to Resilient through Humanoid Robots: Building a New Framework of Resilience, Journal of Robotics. 2018;2018:1-17.
  7. Petersen S, Houston S, Qin H, Tague C, Studley J., The Utilization of Robotic Pets in Dementia Care, Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD. 2017;55(2):569-74.
  8. Portugal D, Alvito P, Christodoulou E, Samaras G, Dias J., A Study on the Deployment of a Service Robot in an Elderly Care Center, International Journal of Social Robotics. 2019;11(2):317-41.
  9. RBR, Service Archives – Robotics Business Review, 2018.
  10. Lu VN, Wirtz J, Kunz W, Paluch S, Gruber T, Martins A, et al., Service robots, customers, and service employees: what can we learn from the academic literature and where are the gaps?, 2020
  11. Sumant, O., Healthcare Assistive Robot Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027, 2021 [Available from https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/healthcare-assistive-robot-market-A10981]
  12. Feuilherade P., Robots pick up the challenge of home care needs, IEC e-tech, Issue’ 02/2017-2018
  13. Jiji., Japan to increase support for firms developing caregiver robots, The Japan Times, 2018
  14. Mordor Intelligence, MEDICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEM MARKET – GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2021 – 2026), 2020 [Available from https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-medical-robotic-systems-market-industry]
  15. FutureWise, Healthcare Assistive Robot Market By Product, By Portability, By Application and By Region: Industry Analysis, Market Share, Revenue Opportunity, Competitive Analysis and Forecast 2020-2027, 2020 [Available from https://www.futurewiseresearch.com/healthcare-market-research/Healthcare-Assistive-Robot/2285]
  16. FutureWise MRR., Healthcare Assistive Robot Market By Product, By Application and By Region: Industry Analysis, Market Share, Revenue Opportunity, Competition and Forecast 2019-2029, 2019
  17. Intelligence M., Service Robotics Market Size, Growth | Forecasts (2018 – 2023), 2018
  18. BIS research, Global Big Data in Healthcare Market to Reach $68.75 Billion by 2025, 2018 [Available from: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-big-data-in-healthcare-market-to-reach-6875-billion-by-2025-reports-bis-research-678151823.html]
  19. ResearchAndMarkets, Analysis on the Global Assistive Robotics Market 2019-2024: Socially & Physically Assistive Robots, 2020 [Available from: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191113005638/en/Analysis-Global-Assistive-Robotics-Market-2019-2024-Socially2019]
  20. Robotzorg, Risicovrij communiceren met behulp van sociale robot james, 2020, [Available from: https://www.robotzorg.nl/product/risicovrij-communiceren-met-behulp-van-de-sociale-robot-james/]