Mohd Azfar Miskam

Study on Social Interaction between Children with Autism and Humanoid Robot NAO

Autism cannot run away from their triangle deficits: social, communication and stereotyped behaviour. There is no cure for autism or any definitive treatment to treat the core symptoms of this developmental disorder. However, the deficits can be minimized by maximize their learning through behavioural therapy and educational intervention. Nowadays, the methods in the rehabilitation of autism have been upgraded by the innovation of humanoid robots, in particular the humanoid robot NAO. In this study, NAO has being programmed using Choregraphe as programming tool to develop lesson modules for children with autism to practice their social interaction skill. This paper focuses specifically on social interaction subscale to observe the behaviour of the autistic children during interaction with the humanoid robot NAO. The observation is based on six items referenced from the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-second edition (GARS-2). The use of humanoid robot NAO in the rehabilitation of autistic children is expected to help them to interact and practice their social traits just like normal children. The results evidently showed that children with autism are positively affected by NAO by giving encouraging responses in social interaction when interacting with the robot. Two-way communication between the child and robot in real time significantly give positive impact in the responses towards the robot.

Humanoid robot NAO as a teaching tool of emotion recognition for children with autism using the Android app

In this paper, we used a humanoid robot to physically show emotional poses and conduct a simple guessing game with children. Nine different emotions using the robots body poses have been developed using Choregraphe. A pre-test was carried out with a normal developing 6-year old boy. We report some qualitative findings that we found during the child-robot interaction. We aim to develop an Android app as a simple tool that can be used on smartphones. This serves as a fundamental step to empower non-technical persons in using robots to interact with children with autism for learning and therapeutic purposes.

Feasibility of using a humanoid robot to elicit communicational response in children with mild autism

Research evidences are accumulating with regards to the potential use of robots for the rehabilitation of children with autism. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the results of communicational response in two children with autism during interaction with the humanoid robot NAO. Both autistic subjects in this study have been diagnosed with mild autism. Following the outcome from our first pilot study; the aim of this current experiment is to explore the application of NAO robot to engage with a child and further teach about emotions through a game-centered and song-based approach. The experiment procedure involved interaction between humanoid robot NAO with each child through a series of four different modules. The observation items are based on ten items selected and referenced to GARS-2 (Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-second edition) and also input from clinicians and therapists. The results clearly indicated that both of the children showed optimistic response through the interaction. Negative responses such as feeling scared or shying away from the robot were not detected. Two-way communication between the child and robot in real time significantly gives positive impact in the responses towards the robot. To conclude, it is feasible to include robot-based interaction specifically to elicit communicational response as a part of the rehabilitation intervention of children with autism.

Vision tracking application for mobile navigation using Humanoid robot Nao

This project presents a new approach of humanoid-operated mobile platform. The robot used in this work is Nao by Aldebaran Robotics. Nao is chosen because of its versatility. Its wide range of movements allows it to perform various tasks such as steering through a simple programming algorithm. Arduino microcontroller target board is used to provide the interface between Nao robot and the mobile platform. This project consist of several parts. This study will focuses on the development of mobile platform, integration of Arduino microcontroller programming with Naos Choregraphe, navigation with obstacle avoidance and finally navigation with human following ability by implementing Nao Mark visual tracking.

Programming platform for NAO robot in cognitive interaction applications

The humanoid robot NAO is a ready-made exploration platform that comes with a Choregraphe software to program and animate it. Choregraphe is a powerful tool that allows programming in Python for motion control. In this paper, we explore how Choregraphe can aid users in building basic cognitive interaction modules specifically for the rehabilitation of autistic children. Difficulty to interact with others and impaired social cognition are some of the core symptoms of autism. A robot in human form has the ability to help encourage children to interact and respond to dialogue cues. Comparison between Choregraphe and another programing tool in embedding cognitive interaction ability into the NAO robot is discussed.

Reactive obstacle avoidance implementation for humanoid controlled mobile platform navigation

This paper presents a new approach of humanoid-operated 4-wheeled mobile platform navigation. The robot used in this work is Nao by Aldebaran Robotics. Nao is chosen because of its versatility. Its wide range of movements allows it to perform various tasks such as steering through a simple programming algorithm. Arduino microcontroller target board is used to provide the interface between Nao robot and the mobile platform whilst humanoid robot NAO act as the main processing unit for the whole system. This project consists of several parts. This paper focuses in the development of a sensing system based using Hokuyo URG-04LX Laser Range Finder and the implementation of reactive obstacle avoidance approach. Experimental test has been performed under several scenarios to determine the best setting for the mobile navigation.

A questionnaire-based survey: Therapist's response on emotions gestures using humanoid robot for autism

This paper is, we used a humanoid robot to physically show emotional poses and conduct a simple guessing game with children. Nine different emotions using the robots body poses have been developed using Choregraphe. Naturally, we need to approximate as closely as possible natural human behaviour to be done by robot to engaging the children to interact with normal human. Therefore, this study is continuation of our previous study on emotion gestures where we get the therapists response towards module of emotions-based teaching module for children with autism. The role of therapists is to give their main knowledge of autism therapy to bring the right creation of module program using robot.

Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) for Children with Autism to Augment Communication Skills

This paper presents a case study of robot-based intervention program for children with autism. The study focuses on two-way communication between children with autism and a humanoid robot NAO. The aim of this study is to develop a set of teaching and learning modules on communication through question type conversation and song-based approach. Module developed in this study is programmed using NAOs choregraphe, being imbedded later on and perform action. Both children participating in this study can communicate verbally and have been diagnosed with mild autism. Response from this exposure shows that the human toddler-like robot can be used as a platform to augment and facilitate communication effectively with children with autism.

Therapists response towards using Android app to control NAO robot during intervention program for children with autism

The previous study have shown that NAO robot can be control using 3rd party application. We had develop an Android app as a simple tool that can be used on smartphones. This serves as a fundamental step to empower non-technical persons in using robots to interact with children with autism for learning and therapeutic purposes. The survey of usability of the android app has been conducted within 18 therapist to give feedback on their view of point. The question are based on SUS format as the rating for accuracy is high.

IQ level assessment methodology in robotic intervention with children with autism

This paper presents the assessment methodology to investigate relationship between Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of children with autism and their respective initial response during robotic intervention, compared to normal classroom interaction. Autism is a brain developmental disorder that leads to the irregular behavior in three common aspects; repetitive stereotyped behavior, communication difficulties, and social interaction. This research introduced robot in humanoid form as assistive tool in child-robot intervention program to investigate the relationship between IQ levels with response of the children in the robot interaction sessions. The Robot-Based Intervention Program (RBIP) is introduced to facilitate the experimental process. The autistic children interact with the robot and completing the interaction modules that has been designed and developed for them which is aimed to reduce the present of autism characteristic and behavior.