The integration of robotics in healthcare,child care, elderly care, and human-robot interaction is rapidly evolving, offering innovative solutions for assistance, companionship, and autonomy. Various studies highlight the role of assistive robots in smart homes, exercise guidance, fall detection, and social engagement for elderly individuals. Personalization and adaptability are key factors, that allow users to train robots for specific tasks while ensuring usability and effectiveness. Robots like Cybi and DARwIn-OP utilize advanced technologies such as cloud computing, fuzzy logic, and IoT to enhance telepresence, safety, and emergency response. Additionally, robotic pets and virtual agents are explored for their ability to reduce loneliness and improve emotional well-being. Beyond elderly care, robotic frameworks like LARa enhance human-robot interaction in indoor environments, while specialized care robots provide structured support for children with special needs. Ethical concerns, privacy issues, and the need for seamless human-robot integration remain challenges, emphasizing the importance of user-centered design, accessibility, and responsible AI development in future robotic solutions.
The paper addresses the growing need for autonomous assistance for the elderly due to the increasing rate of falls. While advancements in IoT and machine learning have enhanced these systems, challenges remain in indoor localization, fall detection, and secure human-robot interaction. The proposed solution is a Robot Operating System (ROS)-based architecture using the DARwIn-OP humanoid robot, integrated with intelligent entities like a wearable tracker (UbiTrack or Apple Watch) for localization and a Roomba for environmental mapping. The system autonomously responds to fall-related SOS alerts, validates falls through robust recognition, interacts with the individual, and takes appropriate actions, such as calling emergency services or notifying family members.
Ambient assisted living leverages technology to support the well-being of elderly individuals. This study presents an autonomous robotic exercise tutor designed to promote successful aging. The robot learns physical exercises through imitation from a human demonstrator and guides elderly users through exercise sessions while providing verbal feedback. Developed in collaboration with a nursing home, the system was tested with day care center visitors across multiple sessions. Video annotations and user self-assessments were analyzed to evaluate performance, revealing that elderly participants successfully engaged with the robot and maintained participation over time.
The article discusses the development of virtual agents and robots to assist isolated older adults at home. A real-time system was created to enable interaction through dialogue and gestures, allowing users to engage in 12 activities, including games and form completion. A preliminary study helped select suitable activities. A month-long study with 44 adults aged 55 to 91 evaluated differences in user engagement with the robot and virtual agent.
5. Smart Feeder Robot for Severely Disabled Patients.
As Taiwan's aging population grows, the demand for long-term and family care increases. This paper proposes an intelligent eye-hand integration system with an infrared sensor-equipped robotic arm to improve feeding accuracy. The system allows precise micro-control of the spoon/claw for cleaner food pickup and adapts to users of different sizes and orientations without requiring posture adjustments. A laser light and camera mounted on the user’s head illuminate food plates, guiding the robotic arm based on user selection. This enhances the autonomy of disabled individuals, allowing them to choose their meals and improve their quality of life. The paper details the system's construction and the image processing algorithms used for laser-guided food selection.
6.Cybi: A Smart Companion Robot for Elderly People: Improving Teleoperation and Telepresence Skills by Combining Cloud Computing Technologies and Fuzzy Logic.
Cybi is a smart companion robot designed to assist elderly individuals by enhancing teleoperation and telepresence capabilities. It integrates cloud computing technologies and fuzzy logic to improve its decision-making and adaptability in dynamic environments. The cloud-based infrastructure enables real-time data processing, remote access, and seamless communication, while fuzzy logic enhances the robot’s ability to interpret and respond to complex human interactions. By combining these technologies, Cybi offers a more intuitive and efficient user experience, promoting better assistance, companionship, and independent living for elderly users.
7.LARa: A Robotic Framework for Human-Robot Interaction on Indoor Environments .
LARa is a robotic framework designed for human-robot interaction in indoor environments. It provides a structured approach to enable seamless communication between humans and robots, enhancing autonomy, adaptability, and responsiveness. The framework integrates sensor-based navigation, voice recognition, and machine learning techniques to improve interaction quality. LARa is particularly useful for applications in healthcare, home assistance, and service industries, where reliable and intuitive human-robot collaboration is essential.
8.Older Adults’ Opinion on Social Robot as Companion .
This study explores older adults' perspectives on social robots as companions, focusing on their acceptance, expectations, and concerns. Many elderly individuals appreciate the potential benefits of social robots, such as companionship, emotional support, and assistance with daily tasks. However, concerns regarding privacy, reliability, and the lack of genuine human interaction remain significant. The study highlights the importance of designing user-friendly and empathetic robots that align with the emotional and social needs of older adults to enhance their well-being and quality of life.
9.Robot Pets as “Serious Toys”- Activating Social and Emotional Experiences of Elderly People.
Robot pets are emerging as "serious toys" that can enhance the social and emotional well-being of elderly individuals. These robotic companions provide comfort, reduce loneliness, and encourage social interaction by simulating pet-like behaviors. Unlike real pets, they require no maintenance, making them ideal for older adults who may struggle with traditional pet care. Studies show that robot pets can stimulate positive emotions, cognitive engagement, and a sense of companionship, improving overall mental health. However, ethical concerns regarding emotional attachment to artificial beings and long-term effects on human relationships remain areas for further exploration.
10. Feasibility of care robots for children with special needs: A review
This review examines the feasibility of using care robots to support children with special needs, focusing on their potential benefits, challenges, and limitations. Care robots can assist with therapy, communication, and social interaction, particularly for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. They offer structured and engaging interactions, helping to improve cognitive and emotional development. However, challenges such as affordability, customization, ethical concerns, and the need for human supervision limit widespread adoption. The study emphasizes the importance of designing adaptive, user-friendly, and ethically responsible robotic solutions to enhance the well-being of children with special needs.