Pepper the robot helps autistic pupils make human friends

Why did the robot cross the road? To tell jokes and lead dances in the corridors of a special needs school.

Pepper, a socially intelligent robot, has spent the past three weeks helping pupils at the Mendip School in Somerset, in a first project of its kind to embed a humanoid robot in a school. Programmed at the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Pepper can take part in social and physical activities with children, such as storytelling, dancing, and using relaxation techniques such as t’ai chi and cuddles to help autistic pupils manage their wellbeing.

“One of the great things we’ve seen already is children gathering in groups to engage with Pepper,” Iian Conley, an assistant head teacher, said.