Problems and Issues for Service Robots in New Applications

Service robots give the possibility of new fields of applications for Robotics by wide spreading robots also into no technical areas. But requirements and goals need to be carefully revised both in designing and operating specific solutions. In this paper, main aspects and challenges are discussed both as problems and advantages in using robots in service operations for new areas of applications, by taking particular attention to non engineering aspects that are deduced from new service areas. In particular, two novel applications, with direct experience of the author and his team, are discussed as referring to robots for restoration activity of historical goods, and robots for physiotherapy rehabilitation and training, as examples with many very different aspects and backgrounds, but even with common issues. Key problems for developing service robots for a successful acceptance and use by even no technical users can be considered in terms of specific technical problems for low-cost user-oriented operation systems, but mainly in terms of implications for human-machine interactions.