Humanoid Robots, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Macarena Chiclana, Queen Mary University of London
- Geography Building Drapers Lecture Theatre, Queen Mary University of London
Based on the experiment “Humanoid Robots, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Specific Language Impairment” in which I was a research assistant under the leadership of Dr. Maria Isabel Cabezudo, at Manises Hospital in Valencia, Spain, this is an ongoing project to conduct a pilot experiment in London and Madrid.
The experiment will test the effectiveness of linguistic and cognitive skill development therapy on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, assisted by an especially programmed humanoid robot called Aisoy, whom I have baptized Wit in honour of Ludwig Wittgenstein. The ideal results would prove that the interaction between the child and the robot improves the social interactions and communicative skills, and that this interaction is more efficient than conventional therapy in increasing communicative and social abilities. These results would be expected to be maintained over time once the therapy is over, and ideally, the child would be able to take the robot home to practice therapy daily and even learn to program it.
This is a clinical multicentric experiment, and I can proudly say that it is in collaboration with three hospitals in Spain: Hospital Infanta Sofía, Hospital La Paz, and Clinica de Navarra. Moreover, I am also conducting this research in collaboration with Manara Autism, an autism awareness foundation in Kuwait. I am now currently working towards a collaboration with hospitals in the UK, more specifically Barts and the London.
The experiment will test the effectiveness of linguistic and cognitive skill development therapy on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, assisted by an especially programmed humanoid robot called Aisoy, whom I have baptized Wit in honour of Ludwig Wittgenstein. The ideal results would prove that the interaction between the child and the robot improves the social interactions and communicative skills, and that this interaction is more efficient than conventional therapy in increasing communicative and social abilities. These results would be expected to be maintained over time once the therapy is over, and ideally, the child would be able to take the robot home to practice therapy daily and even learn to program it.
This is a clinical multicentric experiment, and I can proudly say that it is in collaboration with three hospitals in Spain: Hospital Infanta Sofía, Hospital La Paz, and Clinica de Navarra. Moreover, I am also conducting this research in collaboration with Manara Autism, an autism awareness foundation in Kuwait. I am now currently working towards a collaboration with hospitals in the UK, more specifically Barts and the London.