How North Star Housing and The National Robotarium are bringing robotics into social housing
North Star Housing Group has partnered with The National Robotarium to explore the role of robotics in social housing. This ground-breaking project places a Furhat conversational robot at the heart of a social housing scheme, offering residents not only a cup of tea or coffee but also a warm and engaging conversation.
The robo-barista project
Over the past year, North Star has been working with The National Robotarium, based at Heriot-Watt University, to investigate how AI-powered robots could enhance social interactions in housing communities. The latest initiative, launched at the housing provider’s Aspen Gardens scheme for older persons, has a ‘Robo-Barista’ serving hot drinks while engaging customers in conversation.
The robot, positioned in the bistro, uses AI to chat with residents while it makes their drinks. More than just an automated service, it has been designed to offer companionship, share local knowledge and even take repair requests. Whether discussing the day’s lunch menu, upcoming activities or historical events in the local area, the Robo-Barista aims to foster meaningful interactions between residents and their community.
Encouraging participation & social interaction
One of the key goals of this study is to understand whether conversational robotics can encourage residents to spend more time in communal areas. Social isolation is a significant problem in older people’s housing and technology like this could provide an innovative way to bring people together.
Visitors have had the opportunity to share their experiences with researchers from The National Robotarium, offering insights into how AI-driven social companions can be refined and improved for future applications in housing and care settings.
What’s next?
Following the initial deployment and residents’ feedback, North Star shared its insights at the Housing Technology 2025 conference just a few weeks ago in Nottingham.
As we continue to push boundaries in the housing sector, projects such as Robo-Barista demonstrate that innovation isn’t just about technology, it’s about people as well. By embracing new ideas and partnerships, we can redefine what modern social housing looks like, ensuring it remains connected, customer-focused and forward-thinking.
Sean Lawless is the director of insight and transformation, and Lily Dobing is the media and communications lead at North Star Housing Group.
