REACH

REACH is multidisciplinary research group covering the design, development and evaluation of robotics and digital technologies to improve health and well-being. Underpinning these systems, encompass the foundational areas of machine learning and AI, data fusion, human-robot interaction, machine vision, safety and ethics. REACH is part of Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a centre of excellence in the Department of Engineering, Design and Mathematics at UWE Bristol. We have been working in the area of assistive robotics since 2009 and the REACH group was formalised in 2016. Since then has developed rapidly in terms of size, experience, and reputation. We have on-site facilities for research and development of innovative person-centred assistive technologies within two “Living Lab” testing environments, as well as partnerships with local hospital and residential care providers. This provides our researchers the opportunity to validate concepts and trial users’ actual experience of technology and impact on care pathways and roles. One of the studios is a certified European Robotics League testbed for service robotics benchmarking, evaluating realistic healthcare scenarios, and envisioning future concepts. Our objective is to be an internationally recognised centre of excellence in fundamental and applied healthcare technology research. We will achieve this by Collaborating with Health and Social Care Partners and End-Users to conduct Evidence-based Research and Innovation that will lead to Improved Quality of Life, Health and Wellbeing. We are also passionate about research-informed teaching. As part of this we are addressing the learning needs of the care workforce of the future. Developing new programmes and modules in consultation with care providers, health technology developers, regulatory bodies and advocacy groups.