Hospital visits take on new meaning with therapeutic robots

Having hospital visits from a robot may sound like a strange form of therapy, but according to robotics experts, they can be extremely helpful therapeutic devices.

The idea comes from the MOnarCH project (Multi-Robot Cognitive Systems Operating in Hospitals). Coordinated by Lisbon's Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), the consortium of nine European companies and research centres from five countries aims to develop and introduce a fleet of robots that collaborate with medical personnel and interact with patients. The project will cost EUR 4.5 million, of which the EU has agreed to provide just over EUR 3.3 million.

Further details: cordis.europa.eu