Standards and Regulations for Physically Assistive Robots

In this paper we consider the regulations that currently exist in relation to supporting people in the home and in different care settings. Using existing standards and guidelines that relate to assistive technology and care in the UK, we consider what aspects designers and developers of physically assistive robots would need to be aware of from a safety related perspective. Furthermore, in reviewing current assistive robotics standards and hazard analyses approaches we have found that these do not take into consideration safety aspects relating to a vulnerable user with accessibility needs (physical and cognitive), as well as fail to address issues relating to situations where the user is in physical contact with an assistive robot and is using it for physical support while it is moving. This paper highlights that more attention needs to be given to the changing physical and cognitive abilities of the end-user when considering safety and risks, and hopefully will encourage assistive robot designers to review health and care regulations in their own application context to inform safe design and ensure deployment doesn't get hindered due to lack of compliance to these types of standards and regulations.