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Emotional Robotics

Emotional Robotics

Emotional Robotics

In a phone interview with Fiammetta Castagnini, last week, National Research Council Researcher Gianluca Baldassarre, Coordinator of the  Computational Embodied Neurosciences Lab (LOCEN) at the Cognition Science and Technology Institute (ISTC), gave us a preview of what will the CNR will showcase at RomeCup 2018, where they will be present with a stand [see news: Caring Robots] and organise labs for schools.

 

Today, Gianluca Baldassare presents the "How to Design Emotional Social Robots" Lab for schools that addresses cognitive and emotional aspects in robotics.

 

Ascolta "RomeCup 2018, il laboratorio CNR per le scuole" su Spreaker.

 

Emotions are the focus of CNR Project +Me. This an interactive experimental device designed for therapy for individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and, more in general, for General Developmental Disorders. The aim is to promote, reinforce and assist the development of basic social abilities such as eye-contact, social referencing, and joint-attention. +Me is a small and soft animal-shaped robot that can potentially motivate children with ASD to interact with the therapist during rehabilitation sessions.

 

The prototype is a cut panda with large eyes and four legs. The shape and consistency are designed to create an emotional reaction through reassuring and comforting physical contact. When children pet +Me on its legs, it emits coloured lights, short sounds and music, based on the type of contact. Sound and light stimuli are usually very gratifying to children and can be used to attract their attention.

 

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