On 18 September 2025, the inaugural UK Robotics Expo 2025 took place.
It was held at the National Robotarium in Edinburgh. This landmark event brought together industry, government, academia, start‑ups, and students to showcase and explore the future of robotics and AI innovations in the UK.
The Expo featured a wide array of demonstrations, from collaborative robots and humanoid assistants to autonomous systems designed for healthcare, manufacturing, and public service. Attendees were treated to live showcases, keynote talks, and guided tours of the National Robotarium’s cutting-edge facilities.
The National Robotarium features state-of-the-art laboratories for Human-Robot Interaction research, highlighted by the Laboratory for Robotic Assistive Living (LARA) —a fully equipped two‑bedroom mock-home environment for real‑world testing of conversational robots, smart IoT sensors, and AI-driven assistive living technologies in realistic settings.
The UK Robotics Expo provided a unique opportunity to see HRI principles in action. Demonstrations included assistive robots in home-care scenarios, trust modelling and explainable AI in human-robot collaboration, multimodal interaction and social robotics for healthcare and long-term studies of how robots can support independent living, rehabilitation, and wellbeing.
Panel discussions highlighted the growing importance of ethical design, user experience, public trust in robotics, and the need for collaboration across sectors to ensure that robotics technologies are inclusive, responsible, and aligned with societal needs.
As we move into 2026, the HRI research community at the National Robotarium and across Scotland and the UK is poised to tackle new challenges and opportunities. We also look forward to hosting and participating in the IEEE/ACM HRI 2026, which will be held in Edinburgh, March 2026.