Researchers propose a six-level autonomy scale for care robots, modelled on cars

Mohammad H. Mahoor and co-authors have proposed the Care Robot Autonomy Scale (CRAS) in an arXiv paper, a six-level scale from L0 to L5 for socially assistive wellness robots, modelled on the SAE J3016 standard for car automation. The paper treats the autonomous wellness robot as its own category, defined by its ability to keep assessing and responding across seven dimensions of wellness.

As a case study it uses Ryan, a robot first developed at the University of Denver and commercialised by DreamFace Technologies. Long-term evidence funded by the NIH and NIA, with 18 people and 887 hours, showed a statistically significant cognitive improvement and what the authors call a clinically meaningful reduction in depressive symptoms. They place Ryan at CRAS levels 1 to 2 today and set out a three-phase plan to full autonomy by the early 2030s.