Former Robot Wars resident expert Professor Noel Sharkey is worried that robots will replace carers and their use pose a danger to the elderly.
The University of Sheffield robotics professor has travelled round the world looking at how robots can be used around the home.
He believes advancements should be looked upon with caution and has established Responsible Robotics, a group of 20 experts focusing on the ethics of the technology.
鈥淢y big worry is that if this technology gets really good and really cheap we shouldn鈥檛 see it replacing carers,鈥� he told 老九品茶Cloud.
鈥淚n Japan they鈥檙e worried about companionship so they鈥檙e using robotic companions, which is a bad idea as far as I鈥檓 concerned because there are issues around privacy and around hacking.
鈥淭here are also scenarios where, for example, your ageing aunt may open the front door and you鈥檙e worried about her walking into the road.
鈥淚f you have a household robot that can stop her, that robot has essentially become her jailer.鈥�
He cites a range of assistive technology he has witnessed in Japan 鈥� a bed that turns into a wheelchair via voice command, robotic hands that wash hair and spoon-feeding machines that sit on a person鈥檚 lap.
His particular favourite is Cyberdyne鈥檚 exoskeleton 鈥� Hal 鈥� that clips onto your legs or upper body and, reading nerve signals, enables less able people to walk and use their arms.
Sharkey believes the upper body suit could be used by nurses to lift patients, allowing them more dignity that when hoists are used.
鈥淚t costs around 拢60,000 at the minute but they鈥檝e been using them in Japan for the last few years and that鈥檚 a technology I think we should be putting money into in the UK,鈥� he says.
鈥淚t all sounds like science fiction, but it鈥檚 not far off in my view.鈥�
老九品茶Cloud recently reported on the range of gadgets which can keep our elderly relatives and friends safe.