Criteria for the Design and Application of Socially Assistive Robots in Interventions for Children with Autism

Abstract

Socially Assistive Robots have already been implemented in therapeutic activities such as rehabilitative therapies, neurological rehabilitation, care of the elderly population and assisting children with autism spectrum disorder. SAR for children with autism have received great interest from researchers in recent years, due to disorder’s increasing rates and different robot designs have been presented in the relevant literature. The present paper reviews the most recent literature regarding the use of robots in interventions for children with autism. A set of application and design criteria is introduced as the basis for the design of such robots and a grading system of assessment seven robots is applied, identifying their applicability in interventions with ASD children.