Enhancing independent living with robotics

Heriot-Watt and Blackwood Homes and Care collaborated through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to explore enhanced independent living using robotics

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is an exciting opportunity for research and academia to solve real problems for businesses and provide innovative solutions to drive innovation. By hiring a KTP Associate alongside Heriot-Watt University, you are opening your organisation to forward thinking, unique change-making expertise.

Empowering support for individuals

Caring for people in supported housing requires innovative solutions to address a variety of complex and evolving factors. At the heart of any innovation, the unique needs of residents and service users is paramount and must be carefully balanced with the resources needed to deliver high quality care. In a typical care-at-home setting, residents often face challenges, including mental health concerns, physical mobility limitations, and a need for real-time access to support. Recognising these issues, the partnership sought to improve the working conditions for staff while empowering residents to live more independently, fostering both dignity and self-sufficiency.

Blackwood Homes and Care wanted to explore a robotics-based solution that could complement their existing care systems, improve independent living and enhance the overall quality of life for residents and their carers. This ambitious project saw the thoughtful integration of robotics into a supported care environment, gathering a richer understanding of how people throughout the care environment can benefit from such interactions.

Robotics in action

At the heart of the project was the ‘Temi’ robot, a telepresence robot enhanced and adapted to meet the specific needs of care environments. Deciding how to integrate Temi was driven by a co-design approach, where workshops with Blackwood residents and staff identified key use cases, including mental health check-ins, health reminders, and non-emergency calls.

What set this project apart was the seamless integration of Temi into Blackwood’s advanced housing systems. This involved linking Temi’s robotics to Blackwood’s building management systems, such as lifts, automated doors, and pocket doors, enabling autonomous navigation and the delivery of responsive care services. Advanced technical adaptations also included the refinement of Temi’s navigation capabilities and the integration of ethics frameworks to ensure safe and inclusive testing environments. Heriot-Watt’s expertise in robotics and software development proved crucial when there were challenges mid-project with connectivity between different IT services.

The National Robotarium played a pivotal role in advancing robotics and software solutions throughout this KTP. Its expertise ensured seamless integration of Temi into Blackwood’s care environments while addressing technical challenges and developing ethical frameworks to guarantee safe and inclusive testing.

Ultimately a secure, cloud-based integrated solution was created enabling the robot to function as a “first responder,” providing innovative support to Blackwood’s care teams and residents.

Results that matter

The impact of the KTP on Blackwood’s services has been transformative. By enabling remote triage of emerging situations, the Temi robot has improved efficiency, allowing on-site staff to focus on higher-value tasks while maintaining seamless support for residents. Participants in the trials reported increased satisfaction with the enhanced service, highlighting the robot’s contribution to social engagement and accessibility.

Beyond the trial

Beyond the immediate outcomes, the integration of robotic solutions has influenced Blackwood’s future strategy. The learning from this project has informed updates to building design guidelines and operational processes, ensuring that the organisation is better prepared to scale similar technologies across its portfolio. Additionally, Heriot-Watt’s contribution has created a platform for future research and development, with implications for healthcare, rehabilitation, and independent living.

The success of the Robotics KTP has positioned Blackwood and Heriot-Watt’s National Robotarium as leaders in using robotics for supported living. Future plans include exploring the use of robots for housing inspections and developing standards for robotics in care through the Emergence Network in partnership with University College London (UCL) and the University of Aberdeen.

A pathfinder for future exploration

This Robotics KTP demonstrates how academia and industry can work together to tackle pressing societal challenges. By blending cutting-edge technology with user-centred design, Blackwood Homes and Care and Heriot-Watt have created a roadmap for the future of robotics in housing and care.

Are you ready to unlock the potential of your business with a Knowledge Transfer Partnership? Partner with Heriot-Watt University to access cutting-edge research and tailored solutions that can transform your organisation. Contact GRID@hw.ac.uk to find out more.