A Soft Social Robot to Alleviate Anxiety Symptoms in Children

We present the design and development of a novel sea-creature-like soft social robot, Breco, intended for therapeutic interventions to alleviate anxiety symptoms in children. When hugged, the robot uses slow breath-like expansive movements on its chest and stomach region as a means to comfort and calm the child. The robot was manufactured from soft silicone and uses pneumatic actuation. It features actuated ears, lights, a pressure sensor, and an inertial measurement unit to also enable play-based interaction.
The prototype was pilot tested with a group of three healthy children 5-6 years of age to investigate how the children assessed the robot's design and features in relation to its function as an intervention tool. Results showed that the children perceived the robot as friendly and would like to interact with it physically indicating that the robot's design and behavior matched the intended interaction.