Background
SAKO is a research and innovation project that investigates how technology can contribute to improved workflows, higher quality of services, and reduced physical strain in municipal health and care services. In this phase of the project, we are focusing on solutions for internal logistics in nursing homes, where the transport of waste, laundry, and equipment is currently handled manually by staff.
Dialogue meeting
This dialogue meeting is relevant for:
- suppliers of mobile robots and autonomous systems
- technology companies offering solutions related to sensors, control systems, navigation, or Human–Machine Interface (HMI)
- R&D environments and start-ups with an interest in the healthcare sector
The meeting will take place at UiA campus Grimstad, and you are welcome to join either in person or digitally.
Suppliers are invited to give short presentations (approx. 10 minutes) describing:
- existing or planned solutions that are relevant
- components, technology platforms, or concepts
- experience from healthcare, care services, or similar environments
- how you envision contributing to a further research and development process
All suppliers will receive the same information and the same presentation time. Presentations should therefore remain at an overall and non-binding level, and should not include pricing, commercial terms, or business-sensitive information. Suppliers retain all rights to their own solutions and concepts.
Overall Needs and Technological Themes
This meeting is not a procurement process and entails no obligations. Our intention is to provide all suppliers with the same information, while gaining insight into existing solutions, components, and experiences available in the market and research environments.
As a starting point, we envision a solution employing mobile service robot(s) capable of operating in a nursing home environment and interacting safely with people. The following thematic areas are of particular interest:
1. Transport and Mobility
- Solutions for autonomous or semi-autonomous transport of carts or trolleys
- Stable and safe movement under load, including starting, stopping, and maneuvering
- Adaptation to indoor environments with narrow corridors and varying floor surfaces
2. Navigation and Movement
- Ability to follow predefined routes between functional areas (e.g. storage rooms, wards, laundry facilities)
- Local adaptation to handle obstacles and unforeseen situations
- Operation in environments shared by staff, residents, and visitors
3.Sensing, Safety, and Situational Awareness
- Detection of static and dynamic obstacles
- Collision prevention and safe behaviour in proximity to people
- Monitoring of the robot’s own status (e.g. battery level, faults, operational state)
4. User Interface and Interaction
- Simple and intuitive solutions allowing staff to start, stop, or assign tasks to the robot
- Clear signals for status, alerts, and potential fault situations
- Low threshold for use in a busy working environment
5. Operation and Integration in Nursing Homes
- Solutions for charging and daily operation in institutional settings
- Possibilities for later integration with building infrastructure (doors, elevators, logistics points)
- Flexibility for piloting and gradual implementation
Registration
Participation is free of charge but requires registration. Registration deadline is April 20th 2026, and an agenda, presentation order and TEAMS-link will be sent out prior to the meeting.
If you have any questions or need some more clarifications about the meeting, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Contact persons:
- michael.r.hansen@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 37 23 32 04
- mariann.fossum@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 37 23 37 56