As robotics becomes embedded in sectors from manufacturing to healthcare, leaders must grapple not just with implementation—but with ethics. That was the message from Steve Maclaren, COO of the UK’s National Robotarium, during a talk at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Future Lab.
Maclaren says humanoid robots present an exciting opportunity for businesses to transform their workforces, with manufacturing, healthcare and transport leading the way, and the hospitality sector also seeing rapid growth in adoption.
Speaking at the event, he acknowledged that many robots have been designed with female personalities or features, due to research suggesting younger people respond more positively to female voices.
“But we have to be very careful not to introduce bias and stereotyping into our robots,” he added. “The form of the robot is important. We don’t want to design robots that are always looking up at humans, because robots have rights too.
“We have to get the right sort of engagement with robotic devices. If they’re all small and cute, that might encourage children to treat them as lesser, or start barking orders at them, whereas we want them to be able to have a respectful conversation.”
On industrial and enterprise applications, Maclaren said younger enterprises were typically quicker to adopt robotics, with manufacturing at the forefront.
“Recently, healthcare has come a long way,” he added. “We’re also seeing a lot of automation in transport and hospitality, and people are beginning to realise that tasks like cleaning windows or vacuuming floors are really gaining momentum.
“I’d like to see greater uptake in agriculture,” he added. “In that area, and in healthcare, robots can deliver real benefits. They can address overuse of chemicals, for example, by targeting specific crops.”
Maclaren’s focus at Goodwood was specifically on humanoid robots, which he described as machines that “represent the form of a human form”, with arms, legs, hands and “usually some form of a head” featuring facial elements like eyes and a mouth.
Only humanoid?
Asked why manufacturers are producing humanoid robots, he said it stems from a desire to make people more comfortable when interacting with them.
“The more we see robots representing who we are,” he said, “the easier we find it to communicate.”
There is also a practical reason, he added. As our world is built for human use—think door handles, switches or tools—humanoid robots need to be able to navigate these environments seamlessly.
“We want robots to be able to perform some of the same tasks we do, but we don’t want to adapt the world around the robot. We want to be able to drop them into human environments with no changes.”
These environments, he added, often involve high-risk workplaces where human safety is a concern.
Take, for example, nuclear decommissioning. At Sellafield, the UK’s largest nuclear site, remotely operated vehicles are using a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) laser scanning device in high-radiation environments, allowing robots to build 3D maps of hazardous areas without requiring human entry.
Sellafield first commissioned a Boston Dynamics Spot robot for this purpose, and other nuclear sites have since followed suit. The team has also used an IPEK crawler robot—commonly used for sewer inspections—to assess the structural integrity of pipework from up to 250 metres away.
“You can put robots into things like nuclear decommissioning, for example, where there’s danger from radiation, or where you need robotic assistance.”
Ameca
The 40,000-square-foot Robotarium has been open for three years at Heriot-Watt University. It hosts 10 robotics startups, providing access to labs, workshops, and a range of devices to support sector development. It was initially backed by £21 million in UK government funding.
Ameca is housed at the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh
The organisation, along with other Goodwood sponsors such as Randox, featured several robotics displays at the festival. Alongside the Spot robot, another major draw was Engineered Arts’ Ameca.
The first generation of Ameca was developed by the Cornwall-based company in 2021 and debuted publicly at CES in 2022. It now resides at the National Robotarium headquarters in Edinburgh.
Designed for human interaction, Ameca features embedded microphones, a binocular eye-mounted camera, a chest camera, and facial recognition software, allowing it to engage in conversation. Interactions can be powered either by OpenAI’s GPT-3 or by human telepresence—a system where a person controls the robot remotely via cameras, microphones and sensors. Processing is carried out in the cloud.
“Ameca mimics human conversation skills,” Maclaren explained. “Ninety per cent of how we communicate is through physical interaction, rather than speech, and Ameca is designed to let you experience what it’s like to have a robot communicate with you in a human way.”
Speaking to TechInformed after the session, Maclaren said the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 had been transformational for robots of this kind, moving the technology on from early concepts like Sophia to far more interactive systems. Ameca can even remember a person’s name and appearance, he added.
Since arriving at the Robotarium in 2024, Ameca has been used in several projects and test cases. These include outreach programmes with school pupils and the general public, designed to explore human reactions to robots.
“By showcasing Ameca’s capabilities through its public outreach and education programmes, the National Robotarium will seek to break down barriers and build trust between humans and robots.”
Maclaren noted that one of the next big challenges will be “getting robots into people’s homes”—and that, he added, “has to be done safely”.
“In terms of having them in our homes, I could see the first robots appearing within the next five years,” he said. Ameca, or similar models, could be used to help address social issues such as loneliness.
“We’ve got real problems with elderly people living on their own. Too many people experience loneliness, and with Ameca, you can really build up a rapport.
“It doesn’t replace human-to-human contact, but what it does do is give you the feeling of being able to talk to another being that can hold a conversation—not just answer questions.”
There is also a healthcare angle, with ongoing work to develop robots that can monitor vital signs, mood and physical health through companionship.
Skills
Asked what advice he would give to businesses or individuals looking to engage with robotics, Maclaren highlighted the Robotarium’s role as a national resource for guidance and insight.
“People should get in touch with us, and we can help connect them to the right organisations—whether it’s vendors for adoption or researchers for more information,” he said.
He also encouraged young people to consider careers in robotics.
“We get a lot of engagement from schools, and we can put together packages that show the importance of coding and other roles in STEM.
“Roles in this area aren’t just about coders or technicians. There’s the hardware and the software, but also areas like visual recognition, audio processing, and soft robotics.
“All of these are important—but wrapped around our startups is the skill and agility to manage these projects. You need people who can deliver skills and outreach, because that’s where the talent pipeline comes from. You need project managers.”
As humanoid robots like Ameca push boundaries in communication and care, the challenge now lies in ensuring ethical adoption, nurturing future talent, and preparing homes and workplaces for truly collaborative robotics.
