Robotics and its role in helping disabled people

Robotic technology promises considerable help to people with severe physical disability. The realisation of practical solutions to keep the promise has been slow. A number of systems, including wheelchair-mounted manipulators and vocational workstations, are now under active development and close to market. One area in which a robotic solution is achieving some success is the Handy 1 automated eating aid, which was awarded the IEE Disability Prize in 1992. This article is based on a colloquium organised to accompany the award of the prize.