Research and development of AI-based robot-assisted therapy for children with autism

Children with autism often show a strong interest in technology and usually feel comfortable interacting with smartphones and other technologies. Social robots, as a form of technology, situate somewhere between a computer and a social being. They offer several advantages over traditional autism therapy methods, such as consistency, simplicity, and predictability, which lead to improved attention, engagement, and concentration in children with autism. Additionally, their social capabilities, like eye contact, pointing gestures, and other verbal and nonverbal behaviors, create an engaging yet simplified environment for learning. This project proposes to further improve the APRIL methodology of robot-assisted autism therapy as well as evaluate it on the premises of eight rehabilitation centers across Kazakhstan that have deployed it and utilize on daily basis.