Ergonomics, Values and Robot Ethics
This academic chapter examines the intersection of ergonomics, ethical values, and robot ethics, focusing on how socio-technical systems and frameworks like Value Sensitive Design (VSD) can be applied to robotics. It highlights the integration of ethical considerations in technology development, drawing examples from care robotics and nursing home assistants. Finally, it outlines meta-ethical perspectives concerning robots as potential moral agents.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Researchers, developers, and practitioners interested in the ethical, ergonomic, and value-based design of robotic systems.
What the document contains
The document covers the intersection of ergonomics and robot ethics, analyzing the non-neutrality of technology and explaining how frameworks like Value Sensitive Design (VSD) and Care-Centered Value Sensitive Design (CCVSD) can be implemented in robotics development. It uses the RoMi nursing robot project as a case study to demonstrate how ethical values are addressed during the design and deployment of assistive care technologies.
It does not provide binding legal regulations, formal technical safety standards, or specific enforcement mechanisms for robot deployment.
- Technological artifacts, particularly robots, are not ethically neutral and introduce specific moral and social issues.
- Ergonomics shares foundational values with ethics, such as well-being, safety, accessibility, and trust.
- Value Sensitive Design (VSD) provides a tripartite methodology to embed human values into the technology development process.
- Care-Centered Value Sensitive Design adapts VSD principles to health and elder care robots by prioritizing the needs of caregivers and care recipients.
- Meta-ethical discourses on whether robots can be considered moral agents diverge from the practical objectives of human-centered ergonomics and ethics.
· Abstract · 1 Introduction · 2 Applied Ethics of Technology · 3 Ethics and Values in Technology Design · 4 Ergonomics and Value Sensitive Design (VSD) · 5 Care-Centered Value Sensitive Design and the Project RoMi · 6 Conclusion: The Meta-Ethical Discourse on Robots · References
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
2/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
Ethics, on the other hand, encompasses additional values such as justice, privacy, and freedom.
Section 1
screening score · 2026-10-24
Fairness
2/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
Overall, the RoMi project addressed common issues of the current situation in the care sector by employing methods of CCVSD, with a dedicated focus on ethical aspects such as: quality and self-determination of care labor, balanced care work load, accessibility, fair distribution of technological benefits
Section 5
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Dignity
2/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Ergonomics itself involves certain values such as well-being, accessibility, performance optimization, safety, and trust.
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Oversight
2/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
For example, care workers lose some control over delivery processes by employing a robot.
Section 5
screening score · 2026-10-24
Privacy
2/5Protection of personal data and private life
From the perspective of care receivers, values such as social interaction, autonomy, privacy and justice were considered.
Section 5
screening score · 2026-10-24
Transparency
0/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
None
screening score · 2026-10-24
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
None
screening score · 2026-10-24