BabyRobot · Project

Robots That Help Children with Autism Build Social and Communication Skills

healthTestedTRL 5Thin data (2/5)

Imagine a patient, tireless robot that can play games with a child, track what the child is paying attention to, and gently guide them toward better social skills. Researchers across 6 countries built exactly that — robots (FurHat, ZENO, KASPAR) that read children's emotions and body language to create interactive learning games. The focus was on helping kids on the autism spectrum practice communication in a safe, low-pressure setting alongside their therapist. Think of it as a smart teaching assistant that never gets tired and meets each child exactly where they are.

By the numbers

demonstrated use case scenarios with child-robot interaction

consortium partners collaborating on child-robot technology

countries represented in the research consortium

total project deliverables produced

industry partners including SMEs in the consortium

years of research and development (2016–2018)

The business problem

What needed solving

Children on the autism spectrum often struggle to develop social and communication skills, and therapists face the challenge of creating consistent, engaging, and repeatable practice environments. Traditional therapy relies entirely on human interaction, which is resource-intensive and hard to scale. There is growing demand for technology-assisted tools that can support therapists while keeping children engaged through play-based learning.

The solution

What was built

The project built and demonstrated 3 child-robot interaction scenarios: a joint attention exercise with FurHat robot and an interactive table, a structured building-block game with ZENO robot for communication skills, and dyadic/triadic interaction games with KASPAR robot. Across 29 deliverables, the team developed AI models for tracking child behavior, reading emotions, establishing common ground, and adapting robot responses in real time.

Audience

Who needs this

Autism therapy centers and special education schoolsEdTech companies building interactive learning products for childrenPediatric healthcare providers and rehabilitation centersSocial robotics companies seeking child-interaction AIGovernment agencies funding assistive technology programs for children with disabilities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Special Education & Autism Therapy

any

Target: Therapy centers and special education schools serving children with autism spectrum disorder

If you are a therapy center working with children on the autism spectrum — this project developed 3 demonstrated robot interaction scenarios where robots like ZENO and KASPAR play structured games with children, support joint attention exercises, and help build communication skills. The robot works hand-in-hand with the therapist, not as a replacement, creating a low-risk learning environment across both one-on-one and group settings.

Educational Technology

SME

Target: EdTech companies developing interactive learning platforms for children

If you are an EdTech company looking to differentiate your product with physical robot interaction — this project produced 29 deliverables covering audio-visual behavior monitoring, gestural kinematics, and sensorimotor learning adapted for child users. The technology enables robots to establish common ground with children and adapt their behavior over time, which could be integrated into interactive educational products for both neurotypical and neurodiverse learners.

Assistive Robotics & Healthcare Devices

mid-size

Target: Robotics companies developing assistive devices for pediatric healthcare

If you are a robotics company exploring the pediatric healthcare market — this project advanced core robotic technologies in motion planning, gestural kinematics, and sensorimotor adaptation specifically designed for constrained spaces where children interact. With 8 consortium partners including 2 industry players already involved, the research provides a tested foundation for robots that can read cognitive states and build trust with young users.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this robot-assisted therapy in our center?

The project data does not include specific cost figures for implementation. The system used existing commercial robot platforms (FurHat, ZENO, KASPAR) enhanced with new AI capabilities, so costs would depend on robot hardware plus software licensing. Contact the consortium for pricing discussions.

Can this scale across multiple therapy locations?

The project demonstrated 3 distinct use case scenarios with different robots and interaction setups, suggesting the approach is adaptable to various settings. However, the demonstrations were conducted in research environments across 6 countries, not yet deployed at commercial scale. Scaling would require standardization of the software components developed across the 29 deliverables.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

As a Horizon 2020 RIA project with 8 partners across 6 countries, IP is likely shared among consortium members including 2 industry partners and 2 SMEs. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the coordinating institution in Greece (EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO) and relevant partners who contributed specific components.

Does this comply with regulations for use with children?

The project was specifically designed for use with children, including those on the autism spectrum, and worked hand-in-hand with therapists and educators. Based on available project data, the demonstrations involved real child-robot interactions, suggesting ethical review was part of the process. Any commercial deployment would need to meet local medical device and child safety regulations.

How long before this could be used in a real therapy setting?

The project ended in December 2018 and produced working demonstrations with actual children interacting with robots in 3 different use case scenarios. The core technology has been tested but would likely need further product engineering, clinical validation, and regulatory clearance before commercial deployment in therapy settings.

Can this integrate with our existing therapy tools and assessment systems?

The system uses audio-visual monitoring to track child behavior over time, which could potentially feed into existing assessment workflows. Based on available project data, the robots use structured interaction scenarios that could complement standard therapy protocols. Integration specifics would need to be discussed with the technical partners.

Consortium

Who built it

The BabyRobot consortium brings together 8 partners from 6 countries (Germany, Denmark, Greece, France, Sweden, UK), giving it broad European reach and diverse research traditions. The mix of 4 universities and 2 research organizations provides strong scientific depth, while 2 industry partners (both SMEs) bring commercial perspective — though the 25% industry ratio means this is primarily a research-driven project. The coordinator is a Greek university research institute. For a business looking to license or collaborate, the SME partners are likely the most accessible entry points for technology transfer discussions.

EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTONCoordinator · EL
FURHAT ROBOTICS ABparticipant · SE
THE UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATIONparticipant · UK
KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLANparticipant · SE
ATHINA-EREVNITIKO KENTRO KAINOTOMIAS STIS TECHNOLOGIES TIS PLIROFORIAS, TON EPIKOINONION KAI TIS GNOSISparticipant · EL
BLUE OCEAN ROBOTICS APSparticipant · DK
UNIVERSITE DE LILLEparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITAET BIELEFELDparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

The coordinator is EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTON, a research institute in Greece. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTON profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how robot-assisted therapy technology from BabyRobot could work in your organization? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the research team and help structure a collaboration.

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