IM-TWIN · Project

AI-Powered Wearable Companion Robot for Autism Therapy Centers and Families

healthPilotedTRL 7

Imagine a soft, wearable toy that a child with autism can carry around — but it's actually a smart robot that responds to the child's emotions and encourages them to interact with the world. The team built sensors into it that read the child's stress levels and emotional state, so therapists can track progress in real time through an IoT dashboard. They went from a lab prototype all the way to producing 20 complete systems ready for therapy centers, and even laid the groundwork for a startup to bring it to market.

By the numbers

Complete IM-TWIN systems produced

Wearable physiological sensor units produced

PlusMe companion robots in second production batch

EUR 1,999,965

Total EU contribution

Consortium partners across 4 countries

TRL7

Target readiness level for PlusMe

The business problem

What needed solving

Autism spectrum disorder therapy relies heavily on manual, subjective observation by therapists, with limited tools to objectively track a child's emotional engagement during sessions. Therapy centers lack smart, engaging devices that can both motivate children to interact and simultaneously capture physiological data on their emotional state. This gap means inconsistent treatment outcomes and no real-time feedback loop for therapists or families.

The solution

What was built

The project built PlusMe, an AI-powered wearable companion robot with embedded biosensors and cameras that detects a child's emotional and affective state. They produced 20 complete IM-TWIN IoT systems integrating the robot, 20 wearable physiological sensors, and AI-augmented behavior software through two development iterations — all designed as a modular platform for autism therapy centers.

Audience

Who needs this

Autism therapy centers and ASD clinics looking for technology-assisted treatment toolsSpecial education schools serving children with developmental disordersMedical device distributors expanding into pediatric assistive technologyHealthtech startups developing digital therapeutics for neurodevelopmental conditionsInsurance companies and health systems seeking measurable therapy outcomes

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Autism therapy and rehabilitation centers

SME

Target: ASD therapy clinics and developmental disorder treatment centers

If you are an autism therapy center struggling with inconsistent treatment engagement and limited tools to track a child's emotional progress — this project developed PlusMe, an AI-augmented wearable companion robot with embedded biosensors that detects a child's emotional state in real time. They produced 20 complete IM-TWIN systems validated with target users, designed specifically for therapy center workflows.

Special education and assistive technology

any

Target: Schools and institutions for children with developmental disorders

If you are a special education provider looking for engaging, evidence-based tools to support children with autism spectrum disorder — this project built a modular IoT system that combines a wearable companion robot with physiological sensors and cameras. The system was produced in batches of 10 and 15 units of PlusMe, making it practical for classroom-scale deployment.

Medical device and healthtech

mid-size

Target: Companies developing or distributing assistive devices for developmental disorders

If you are a medical device company looking to expand into the autism therapy market — this project reached TRL7 with PlusMe, completed market analysis and IPR strategy, and created a business plan for a startup. With 20 wearable sensor units and 20 complete systems produced, the technology is ready for licensing or co-development partnerships.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this system cost for a therapy center?

The project does not disclose per-unit pricing. However, the total EU contribution was EUR 1,999,965 across development, production, and validation. With 20 complete IM-TWIN systems produced, production economics are established but commercial pricing would depend on the startup the project planned to create.

Can this scale to hundreds or thousands of units?

The project demonstrated scalable production in stages: 10 PlusMe units in the first batch, 15 in the second, and 20 complete IM-TWIN systems in the final production run. The modular IoT architecture was designed for manufacturability, and the exploitation plan included market analysis for broader deployment.

Who owns the IP and can I license it?

The IP is held by the 5-partner consortium led by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy). The project explicitly included IPR strategy refinement and exploitation planning, with a stated goal of creating a startup for commercialization. Licensing discussions would go through the coordinator.

Has this been tested with real patients?

The project's objectives included validating the device and its components with target groups. With 20 complete systems and 20 wearable sensor units produced as deliverables, the system was built for real-world validation in therapy settings. The project targeted TRL7, which requires demonstration in an operational environment.

What regulations apply to this kind of device?

As a wearable device with biosensors used in a therapeutic context for children, it would need to comply with EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) depending on its classification. The project included market analysis activities, which would have addressed regulatory pathways. Based on available project data, specific certification status is not detailed in the deliverables.

What does the system actually include?

The complete IM-TWIN system consists of the PlusMe wearable companion robot with AI-augmented behavior, physiological wearable sensors for detecting emotional and affective states, embedded cameras, and an IoT integration layer connecting all components. It is a modular system designed for therapy centers and potentially home use.

Is there a startup or company selling this already?

The project listed startup creation as an explicit objective for exploiting the IM-TWIN system and its components. Keywords include 'startup', 'business plan', and 'exploitation plan'. Based on available project data, the startup was planned but its current operational status would need to be confirmed with the coordinator.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 5 partners across 4 countries (France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal) is led by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy's largest public research body. The mix includes 2 universities, 1 research organization, 1 industry partner, and 1 other entity, with 1 SME in the group. The 20% industry ratio is modest, but the project explicitly targeted commercialization through startup creation and business planning. The EUR 1,999,965 budget was focused on taking an existing prototype through production runs of 10, 15, and finally 20 complete systems — a clear path from lab to market. For a business partner, the coordinator CNR brings credibility and deep research capacity, while the SME partner signals real-world commercial awareness.

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHECoordinator · IT
LEARNING PLANET INSTITUTEparticipant · FR
PLUX - WIRELESS BIOSIGNALS S.A.participant · PT
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHTparticipant · NL
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy — contact via SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the project team

Order a report on this consortium See CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to license the IM-TWIN technology or explore distribution partnerships for autism therapy tools? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the project team and provide a detailed technology brief.

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