Hello Robot has received a $3M grant from the National Institute on Aging to advance its Stretch mobile manipulator for elder care applications. The three-year project, running through May 2029, will adapt Stretch for cognitive assistance, social engagement, and safety management in home and care settings. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign serves as research partner, with testing conducted in their McKechnie Family LIFE Home facility.
The project will leverage Stretch 4, Hello Robot's newest model introduced in May, integrating AI-powered language, planning, perception, and voice interaction. Target applications include medication reminders, activity guidance, object location assistance, social connection support, and mobility safety routines. Researchers will conduct participatory design research with 60 older adults, care partners, and professional care staff to refine real-world usability.
The timing addresses a demographic and workforce crisis. More than 11,000 Americans turn 65 daily, while the caregiving sector faces 77% turnover rates and nearly 10M projected job openings by 2034. Globally, the 65+ population is expected to double from 761M in 2021 to 1.6B by 2050. Assistive robotics represents one pathway to bridge the gap between demand and available human caregivers.
The project builds on earlier NIH-funded research that used participatory design to refine Stretch for users with cognitive and physical impairments. Extended evaluations will run in both private homes and professional care facilities operated by research partner Lindsey Communities. Researchers will measure effectiveness, usability, reliability, trust, acceptance, and safety — the practical requirements for deploying assistive robots at scale.
