KASPAR, social assisted robot therapy
The Problem
- About 700,000 people in the UK are affect by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Children with ASD have difficulties with communication and social interaction, finding it socially demanding and unpredictable.
Our research
- Wider research has shown that children with ASD enjoy communicating with computers and robots
- Consequently, our researchers designed and developed a patented humanoid robot, called KASPAR, to provide therapy for children with autism
- In the first NHS study of its kind, KASPAR demonstrated how it can effectively help children with ASD increase their everyday functioning through individualised social interventions.
Research Impact
- 20 KASPAR robots have been introduced to schools, homes and hospitals to provide one-to-one support
- KASPAR has socially supported around 250 children across six countries
- A licensing agreement has been reached with a Canadian company to bring KASPAR to market in North America and Asia
- KASPAR is contributing to the public’s wider acceptance of social robots for therapy.
Researchers:
- Prof Kerstin Dautenhahn
- Prof Farshid Amirabdollahian
- Dr Ben Robins