The theme of Companion Robotics Research was first proposed as a dedicated large scale Collaborative RTDI Programme by the CompanionAble Consortium, led by Atta Badii, in May 2007 and subsequent to the approval of the project as an Integrated Programme under the auspices of the EC ICT-FP7 eInclusion Directorate, the CompanionAble Consortium (
www.companionable.net) organised the first international workshop on the Companion Robotics theme in November 2008 at the ICT 2008 in Lyon which attracted a large number of participants. This was followed by a second and third such workshop respectively in Bilbao, December 2008, and again in Salzburg at the AmI 2009. This 4
th research workshop in the series continues our focus on research challenges relating to the graceful adoption, integration and adaptation of Companion Robots as socially-aware assistive devices at home, or at work for enhanced life/work-style support, comfort and societal benefits.
