Socially intelligent robot to be introduced to special needs school in innovative study

Unlike previous research in this field, which has focused mainly on testing robots with autistic people within laboratories and controlled settings, the UWE Bristol study will place and evaluate a socially intelligent robot in a special needs school during term time.

The research project, which involves academics from the fields of education, robotics and architecture, will begin in November with the placement of the robot in classrooms scheduled for Spring 2021.

Researchers will work closely with pupils and teachers at a special needs school in Somerset to design the project and ensure the robot addresses their needs. Over the course of two months, the robot will be placed in various classes at the school where it will be operated by a member of the research team.

The robot will take part in regular teaching as well as interacting with children to support the teacher’s activities. This will give researchers the opportunity to observe and learn how robots can be best used by schools to engage pupils, and their teachers, in social and learning opportunities. Cleaning and hygiene measures will also be in place throughout the project to ensure the robot is COVID-secure.

The socially intelligent robot, known as Pepper, is capable of joining in a range of simple social and physical activities with children, such as story-telling, games and informal chats. Programmed at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, its behaviours and commands will focus on improving meaningful social interventions which many autistic children struggle with, such as social communication skills, joint attention (the shared focus of two individuals on an object) and exercising.