Robotics in healthcare

In recent years, there have been substantial advancements in research and innovation concerning robotics in healthcare. Global trends indicate an ageing and increasingly ill patient population, coupled with rising demands on healthcare workers that heighten their risk of injury. Robotic technology holds significant promise for optimising patient care, enhancing clinical productivity, and improving patient and healthcare practitioners’ safety. This chapter conducts a comprehensive review of the current landscape of robotics in healthcare and well-being, emphasising the critical barriers and facilitators affecting the technology’s real-world implementation. Extensive research was conducted to identify the latest robotic technologies applicable in healthcare settings. Primary references include international organisations, online news agencies, and academic publications. In this chapter, primary application areas of robotics in healthcare include Surgical, Service, Assistive, telepresence, and patient monitoring robots. Among the major application areas of robots, surgical robots face the most significant challenges in cost, training and skill development, complexity, and precision. In contrast, service, assistive, telepresence, and patient monitoring robots also have challenges like user acceptance, reliability, and data privacy, and surgical robots often deal with higher stakes in terms of safety and outcomes. The chapter identified the main opportunities, challenges, and considerations for implementing robots in healthcare, followed by a deep exploration of the technological framework, integration challenges, and algorithmic innovations. The proposed chapter will increase awareness among early-stage researchers about the role of robotics in healthcare to enhance the availability, quality, and acceptance of this technology.