PARO
PARO is a baby harp seal robot designed by Prof. Shibata at AIST (Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) Tsukuba, Japan. Paro is a high-tech robot in the shape of a newly born seal, covered in soft fur and capable of the movements and sounds typical of very young pups. Its soft white fur hides a complex network of sensors that allows it to react to environmental stimuli. Its back and its front and back paws are covered with pressure sensors; its nose hides light sensors that activate the eyelid motors so that they close in the dark; and its whiskers have sensors that activate the emission of sounds.
Paro responds to pats and other external stimuli by moving its body and head in a coordinated way, fluttering its eyelids, making sounds, and purring if cuddled (sensors on its belly are activated when the seal is kept in a vertical position or touches the human body). But if it is hit or is stroked in a way it does not like, it reacts with "irritation" and stops interacting. Paro is therefore capable of showing a fairly complex type of behavior. Besides reacting to external stimuli, it may take initiatives, such as lifting its head, fluttering its eyes and making noises to encourage humans to interact with it. It also has software that allows it to learn a few words and therefore turn around when called.
In the context of a joint research project in collaboration with AIST, Paro has been experimented in Italy in various rehabilitation centres and Home Care institutions. This activity has been coordinated and conducted by a team of researchers from the Department of Communication Science of the University of Siena:
- The Functional Rehabilitation Unit at Le Scotte Hospital, Siena where PARO has been used within therapeutic non pharmacological intervention of children affected by severe cognitive impairments (Angelman syndrome, Down syndrome, Autism).
- The Casa Protetta "G. Albesani", Castel S. Giovanni (PC), where PARO has been adopted to support the treatment for elderly people affected by dementia.
- The Fondazione "Peppino Scoppa", Angri (SA), where the robot has been used with children with relational deficit.
Consortium
Interaction Design Area, University of Siena
AIST, Tsukuba, Japan
Functional Rehabilitation Unit, Le Scotte Hospital, Siena
Fondazione Peppino Scoppa, Angri, Salerno
Casa Protetta Albesani, Castel S.Giovanni, Piacenza
Resources
Marti, P., Giusti, L., Cilesi, I., La robot therapy e le relazioni d’aiuto , atti del convegno Brain aging and Dementia. Brescia, 1-3 Dicembre,2005.
Marti, P., Bacigalupo, M., Giusti, L., Mennecozzi, C., Shibata, T., Terapie Mediate da Robot , Poster presentation. Workshop di Scienze Cognitive Applicate, Roma, 12th - 13th, Dicembre 2005.
Marti, P., Palma, V., Pollini, A., Rullo, A., Shibata, T., My gym robot , Proceedings of AISB 05 International Symposium on Robot Companions: hard problems and open challenges in human robot interaction, April 2005, Hatfield, UK.
Marti, P., Pollini, A., Rullo, A., Shibata, T., Engaging with artificial pets , Proceedings of The annual conference of the European association of cognitive ergonomics, September 28- October 1 2005, Creta, Greece.
Marti, P., Giusti, L., Pollini, A. , Rullo, A., Experiencing the flow: design issues in human-robot interaction , In: Bailly, G., Crowley J.L., and Privat G., Proceedings of SoC-EUSAI 2005, Joint conference on Smart Objects & Ambient Intelligence. October 12-14 2005, Grenoble, France, pages 69-74.
Marti, P., Bacigalupo, M., Giusti, L., Mennecozzi, C., Shibata, T., Socially Assistive Robotics in the Treatment of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia , proceedings of BioRob 2006, Pisa, Italy.
Giusti L., Marti P., Robots as social mediators: a study ”in the wild” , Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of the International Society for Gerontechnology. June 4-7, 2008 - Pisa, Italy.
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