RoboParrot 2.0: A multi-purpose social robot

Abstract

A large variety of social robots with various applications have been developed recently in order to improve Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and satisfy certain social needs such as companionship. However, they cannot be deployed in Middle East due to their inability to have verbal communications in user's native language, availability issues, and high costs. This research introduces the design and development of a semi-autonomous robot called RoboParrot which can be used in various applications such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) therapy, teaching foreign languages, and elderly companionship. Previous versions of RoboParrot have been successfully deployed as a tool for ASD screening and have shown high acceptance rates among children. The new version has been used for interaction with both autistic and typical children and also elderly people. The platform is capable of adding further features to increase its autonomy so it can be widely used in homes of independent-living elderly people, nursing home, hospitals, and for home based ASD therapy. In order to expand applicable fields, various features have been added to the robot making it a multi-purpose portable social robot.