Verification Methodology of Ethical Compliance for Users, Researchers and Developers of Personal Care Robots

摘要

Demographic change is boosting the use of assistive technologies, like Personal Care Robots (PCR), in elderly care. However, the legislation and guidelines for the development of PCR is still fragmented and structured tools and procedures are required. This article presents a proposal for a Verification Methodology for Ethical Compliance in robotic platforms development. Differently from other projects and publications, it does not devote itself to discourse on ethical and moral issues itself but in suggesting a structured method to approach these issues, facilitating an integrated and holistic approach that can ensure more adjusted and fruitful outcomes. This methodology works around a constellation of actors - researchers, developers and end-users - that were involved in all different phases of its development and should also intervene in its enforcement.