Drones interacting with children with autism via dance-movement therapy

(funded by the NWO Open Mind grant)

In this project, we will create affordable, personalized, easy-to-use drones for children with autism. These drones will perform and engage children in dance movement therapy. The drone will have a user-interface, provided as an app, with a non-technical language that makes it easy for families and caregivers to use. Using artificial intelligence and adaptive control techniques, the drone can autonomously interact with the child. Dance movement therapy via drones can improve social skills of all children on the autism spectrum, from verbal, high-functioning to non-verbal, low-functioning.

In this project, I will collaborate with Dr. Ruth Van der Hallen from the Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

This 2-minute movie briefly explains the idea of the research proposal: