Social Robotics and Optical Sensors: TowardIn-Group Sessions and Stress Management Therapies in a Special School
Name: MARÍA FERNANDA GAITÁN PADILLA
Publication date: 28/03/2024
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| CAMILO ARTURO RODRIGUEZ DIAZ | Advisor |
Summary: Socialroboticshasshownpromiseinprovidingbenefitsforthewell-beinganddevelopment of childrenandyouthwithAutismSpectrumDisorder(ASD).TheCASTORproject, previouslypilotedinColombiawithpreliminaryandmedium-termstudies,hasindicated thepotential for implementingalong-termprotocol.Fromthisfoundation, theproject extendedtotheRehabilitationCenterClubLeonesCruzdelSur inthesouthofChile, wherecollaborativeeffortsbetweenprofessionalsandengineerswereconducted. Aliteraturereviewwasconductedtoproposea framework intheSpecialSchool and a long-termstudywas conductedas thefirst experienceof robot-assistedtherapy in the institution, involvingeight childrenwithASDin12 sessionswiththeCASTOR robot.Thesesessionswerefacilitatedthroughin-personassistanceandremotecontrol usingcamerasandawebinterface.Acomprehensiveanalysiswasconducted,considering longitudinalvariables,professional therapeuticassessments,andvideoanalysis. Atwo-pathprojectstructurewasproposedasalong-termproject, includingtheaddition ofthesocialrobottoin-groupsessionsineducationalsettings,andtheimplementation of robot-assisted therapieswith sensors’ feedback to the robotic systemconsidering environmentalandphysiological informationfromtheparticipants.Thismasterproject presentstheinitialworkconductedwithintheproposedproject’sframeworkinaspecial school inChile. Itencompasses fourcomponents: (1)along-termstudyevaluatingthe CASTORrobotintherapiesofsocialskillswithchildrenwithASD,(2)anin-groupstudy involvingneurodiversechildrenandyouthtoassesstheCASTORrobot’seffectiveness acrosstwodifferentcognitivelevelsandages, (3)thedevelopmentandevaluationofa wearablepolymericopticalfiber(POF)sensortodetectphysiological stresscompared withaFiberBraggGrating(FBG)sensorandthecommercialShimmersensor, forfuture applicationsonchildrenwithASDinrobot-assistedtherapieswiththeCASTORrobot, and(4)theconclusionsandfutureworksregardingthecompleteproject’sframework.
