Just a Chill Robot. Strategies for relatable and personalized Assistive Robots for Autistic Children

Abstract

This research explores innovative approaches to improve Robotic Therapeutic Assistant for autistic children1. It aims to design a social robot that is believable as a peer for the children, implementing a relatable personality, youth-inspired communication style, and interests reflecting the children's. Robot-Assisted Therapies (RT) proved to be engaging and produced better outcomes than traditional ones with autistic children. Still, there is a need for improved customisation of robot behaviour and communication, as well as greater inclusivity in the field, characterised by the unbalanced participation of boys interested in robotics. This research welcomes the literature's hints on the possibility of these issues being addressed by applying a user-centred approach and leveraging a dynamic user model (UM) and offers proposals to customise the robot's behaviour, making it a more versatile tool for therapists. As part of the "FeelGood!"project2, this study benefits from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team, contributing with perspectives of different neurotypes. The co-design process, with the innovative idea to include both autistic and allistic children, counts to comprise every involved group's feedback on designing engaging, relatable and therapeutically meaningful interactions.