Using proxemics to evaluate human-robot interaction

Abstract

This work is part of a larger effort to develop an autonomous socially assistive robot system for free-play interaction with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Feil-Seifer and Mataric ' 2008). Socially assistive robots (SAR) have been shown to have promise as potential assessment and therapeutic tools, because children with ASD express an interest in interacting socially with such machines (Robins, et al., 2005; Scassellati 2005). Our work is motivated by the fact that SAR may hold significant promise for ASD intervention. The long-term goal of this and related endeavors is to develop robot systems that can aid in the diagnosis or treatment of ASD. While the focus of our research is to provide the technological basis for assisting the diagnosis and/or treatment of ASD, our current work is limited to the feasibility of using an automated system to interact socially with a child with ASD. Specific Aim