Human-Robot Interactoin Design for Robot-Assisted Intervention for Children with Autism Based on E-S Theory

Abstract

The paper presents a novel human-robot interaction (HRI) framework to assist intervention for children with autism, based on Empathizing-Systemizing (E-S) theory. E-S theory explains the social difficulties in autism as the result of deficits or delays in empathizing, while explaining nonsocial behavior patterns as the effect of intact or even superior skills in systemizing. In this paper, the strength of systemizing is utilized to make up the deficiency and facilitate the development in empathizing via robot-assisted intervention, which has been identified as one of the most popular methods that are producing inspiring outcomes in the rehabilitation of children with autism. The design of HRI scenarios and tasks based on E-S theory makes the robot-assisted intervention more effective and efficient.