The TRI-TECH project aims to assess the efficacy of robotic care for the elderly by harnessing theoretical resources along three dimensions of analysis: technical, ethical and social. Our multi-disciplinary team, which includes engineers, computer scientists, ethicists, and dissemination experts specialized in assistive care for the elderly, is especially tailored to address this urgent and sensitive issue.
October 2024 – March 2025
In the first half of the year, the TRI-TECH – Trust in technology: How to Assess and Improve RoboT-User Interaction in Elderly Care project completed the activities of WP2 and started those of WP1, WP3, WP4 and WP5. In WP1, the team was formed with two research fellows recruited in November 2024, the kick-off meeting was organised and periodic reports were prepared. WP2 produced the TRI-TECH Ethical Framework (D3, 100%), developed through a critical review of the literature and the identification of four sub-values of trust (relational autonomy, relationality, meaningfulness, vulnerability), currently being published in a scientific journal. In WP3, the Pepper and Nao robots were programmed with interactive behaviours and agents based on Large Language Model for adaptive responses, speech-to-text system and input/output logging (60%). WP4 and WP5 defined the experimental protocols for testing trust in human-robot interactions (CRF, inclusion criteria, qualitative interview), prepared material for the recruitment of 15 participants for each site, and initiated ethical practices (Cagliari: documents submitted; Pisa: in preparation). Two robots initially planned were excluded due to programming limitations, with no impact on the project objectives. Activities are proceeding as planned, with WP1 and WP2 deliverables completed/partially completed and WP3-WP5 in progress.