Shaping the Future: Robotics session from day one of RNIB Scotland's Inclusive Design for Sustainability Conference.

In recent years we’ve seen robotics moving towards becoming a mainstream consumer technology. From automatous lawn mowers to wet and dry household vacuums, through to the development of assistive robots such as the robot guide dog, clearly there is huge potential for robotics to bring about a step change when it comes to independence and mobility. Our panel will aim to contextualise recent technological advancements in the sphere of robotics. They will also provide a state-of-the-nation analysis of real-world usability pertaining to inclusion. Finally, we will take a glimpse into the future and aim to predict what might be next. 

This session was facilitated by Dr Wasim Ahmad and Dr Ola Popoola from James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow. It featured: Lisa Johnson, Global VP at Starship, as well as Prof. Wei Yao and Mary Ellen Foster from University of Glasgow.

Hear all audio from the conference here: Audioboom / Inclusive Design for Sustainability Conference 2025

Image description: A dramatic, angled shot of an empty stage. At the front a pink podium reads "RNIB Scotland, Inclusive Design for Sustainability Conference." Behind, a line of grey chairs awaits experts for the panel discussions and a large pink IMAX screen hangs above.