Evaluating the Child–Robot Interaction of the NAOTherapist Platform in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Abstract

NAOTherapist is a cognitive robotic architecture whose main goal is to develop non-contact upperlimb rehabilitation sessions autonomously with a social robot for patients with physical impairments. In order to achieve a fluent interaction and an active engagement with the patients, the system should be able to adapt by itself in accordance with the perceived environment. In this paper, we describe the interaction mechanisms that are necessary to supervise and help the patient to carry out the prescribed exercises correctly. We also provide an evaluation focused on the child-robot interaction of the robotic platform with a large number of schoolchildren and the experience of a first contact with three pediatric rehabilitation patients. The results presented are obtained through questionnaires, video analysis and system logs, and have proven to be consistent with the hypotheses proposed in this work. J. C. Pulido (first author) and J. C. González (second author) contributed equally to this work.

Service robot implementation: a theoretical framework and research agenda

“…In contrast, younger customers tend to accept robots as a tool to accomplish simple, repetitive tasks in service sectors, such as tourism (Ivanov, Webster, & Garenko, 2018). Assistive robots also can help children perform specific tasks related to health care and rehabilitation (Pulido et al, 2017), as well as in the education sector, evoking better results among primary rather than in secondary school students (Fernandez-Llamas, Conde, Rodríguez-Lera, Rodríguez-Sedano, & García, 2018). Thus, children might be a particularly indicated segment to embrace service robots.…”

Physiotherapists' Acceptance of a Socially Assistive Robot in Ongoing Clinical Deployment

“…The authors noted potential benefits for improving motor function in children with CP. NAOTherapist [6] utilises a RGB-D camera to assist upper-body paediatric rehabilitation. The system was evaluated with 117 healthy school children, however to date has only been evaluated with 3 patients.…”

“…Their role is typically to improve the emotional and cognitive state of patients, and/or their engagement in a treatment program through appropriately designed sociallyengaging interactive behaviours. Paediatric rehabilitation has received particular focus in recent years [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], with a growing body of evidence suggesting SARs offer potential benefits for patients undergoing intensive rehabilitation. However, no formal study has yet been conducted to evaluate the acceptance of such systems in the ongoing rehabilitation programs.…”

A Framework for User Adaptation and Profiling for Social Robotics in Rehabilitation

“…In the field of Assistive Robotics, NAOTherapist [5] is the name of an innovative project which aims to integrate social humanoid robots in rehabilitation therapies. NAOTherapist comprises a series of components working together to improve the development of rehabilitation therapies of the upper extremities by increasing patient's motivation and commitment.…”