Child-sized robot helps autistic kids learn social skills

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British researchers have designed a humanoid robot capable of engaging with autistic children, helping them to interact and communicate with their peers and adults.

Kaspar is helping break down the social barriers faced by many children with autism. The child-sized humanoid can talk, comb its hair, imitate eating, play the tambourine and sing with children. Its face was designed by a team from the University of Hertfordshire to be simple, with easy-to-read expressions.

Touch sensors help children learn safe social interaction. If a child is too rough, Kaspar responds accordingly.

Dr. Ben Robins, a senior research fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, with Kaspar the robot. /Reuters Photo

The robot has been tested with about 170 children over 10 years of development. As the world prepares to mark World Autism Day on Sunday, Kaspar is set to begin two years of clinical trials organized by the local health service in Hertfordshire, southern England.

“It's very important for us to see what's happened outside the context of the robot, otherwise we're just developing a nice toy – but that's not the point,” said Dr. Ben Robins, a senior research fellow at the University of Hertfordshire.

Kaspar is remote controlled, which means that a teacher or therapist is always involved. So far, the developers have built 28 Kaspar prototypes and they are seeking investment to get the robot into more schools, homes and clinics.

(With inputs from Reuters)