Social Interaction
Social interaction is a building block of society. Through verbal and no-verbal behaviours, people communicate their intend. The lack of this skill is mostly present in individuals with ASD.
Emotions
Emotion is often defined as a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behaviour. For children with ASD the process of recognition and displaying emotions is a very difficult task.
Generalisation
Generalisation is the ability to apply a certain knowledge to a different context different from the one it occurred. Children with ASD show impairments related to this ability.
The Project
Robótica-Autismo Project started in 2009 from a partnership between University of Minho (UM) and APPACDM of Braga (Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Citizens).
This research project wants to use robots to improve social life of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In particular, the aim is to improve the skills of interaction, communication, and emotion recognition with the environment and with others.
Several worldwide researchers have been dedicated to the study of the influence of the use of robots in the development of cognitive and behavioral skills in children with ASD. However, we are still at an early stage of research and we are still trying to understand which are the most adequate and effective characteristics of the robots to interact with this specific target group.
Currently, there are being designed and studied new ways to interact with children with ASD at school age, using robots with greater capabilities. Know more about the project here.
Background
A robotic project of portuguese genesis at the service of autism coordinated by the researcher Filomena Soares. Founded in 2009, from the result of a partnership between the University of Minho (UM) and the Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of the Mentally Deficient Citizen (APPACDM), consists in the use of robotic platforms as promoters of social interaction with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It started by using the robotic platform LEGO NXT Mindstorms™ as an intervention tool in sessions with children with ASD. Nowadays, the research team is more focused on developing interactive tools with ZECA (Zeno Engaging Children with Autism) which is a robotic platform that is capable of expressing emotions.
ZECA - Zeno Engaging Children with ASD