European Robot Companions for Citizens accepted to negotiation

The CA-RoboCom pilot, aimed at the design of the FET Flagship Initiative on "Robot Companions for Citizens", was evaluated positively and invited to negotiation. The selection process of the CAs that will be funded was very severe: 23 CA proposals were submitted and 6 were selected and invited to negotiation. The negotiation with the invited CA proposals will take place in Brussels on February 28.
If the negotiation will be successful the CA-RoboCom will be funded, and will start  officially on May 1, 2011 (duration 1 year).


Currently, the initiative is supported by a very large and growing  community, involving more than 90 experts  across academy and industry of 15 different European countries, and 10 interdisciplinary organizations, involving networks, clusters of excellence and technological platforms.

€11 Million for a Companion Robot

Researchers from six European countries and 18 reseach institutions are working together to provide the synergy of Robotics and Ambient Intelligence technologies and their semantic integration to provide for a care-giver's assistive environment. The CompanionAble consortium lead by The University of Reading, UK, has 48 months and a budget of €11 million to address the issues of social inclusion and homecare of persons suffering from chronic cognitive disabilities prevalent among the elderly, a rapidly increasing population group. Those people need support of carers and are at risk of social exclusion, yet this problem not well addressed by ICT technology, but would lead to a social and economical pressure for staying at home as long as possible.will

1st Demonstration of the CompanionAble Robot will be helt at the Conference Marking the European Day of People with Disabilities from the 3rd to 4th December in Brussels.

DOMEO Companion robot for cognitive and physical stimulation

French Robosoft, is developing and evaluating in real conditions DOMEO, a new companion robotic system that would allow cognitive and physical stimulation. Providing an efficient system to elderly, disabled or simply needing people is very ambitious.

The video below shos how the companion robot can help people in their everyday life, using natural language.