Robot applications for autism: a comprehensive review

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Human-Robot Interaction

Background:

• Robotic technology offers advancements in education, training, and therapy.
• Emerging research indicates robots' effectiveness in rehabilitation and education for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive review of robotic technology applications for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore databases.
• Articles published in the last ten years were identified using thematic keywords in titles, abstracts, and keywords.
• Studies were filtered and analyzed based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Out of 208 retrieved studies, 166 met the inclusion criteria.
• The NAO robot was utilized in 30.5% of the 68 robots featured in the reviewed studies.
• The majority of studies focused on enhancing learning skills and improving social communication in children with ASD.

Conclusions:

• Robotic interventions show promise for augmenting learning and social communication skills in children with ASD.
• Robots can help mitigate stereotyped behaviors in individuals with ASD and are also applicable for those with severe intellectual disabilities.
• Further research is needed to ascertain the effectiveness of robotic rehabilitation considering factors like participant sex, age, and IQ, and to evaluate both physical and virtual robot applications.