Robotic technology promises considerable help to people with severe physical disability. The realisation of practical solutions to keep the promise has been slow. A number of systems, including wheelchair-mounted manipulators and vocational workstations, are now under active development and close to market. One area in which a robotic solution is achieving some success is the Handy 1 automated eating aid, which was awarded the IEE Disability Prize in 1992. This article is based on a colloquium organised to accompany the award of the prize.