Vilans explores innovative cuddly care robots

What is a Cuddly and Socially Assistive Robot?

A CSAR is a social robot shaped like a cuddly doll. It not only offers social companionship but also supports in daytime structure. Additionally, the robot collects data via sensors, which can be shared with caregivers and family members. They provide partial insights into the client's life style, including client’s basic activities of daily life-activity monitoring.

Bob Hofstede, a digital care researcher at Vilans and PhD candidate in social robots at Eindhoven University of Technology, explains: 'During the initial exploration, we observed numerous possibilities for this robot in care for older adults, disability care, and daytime activity centers. Unfortunately, the Korean Hyodol couldn't be thoroughly tested in the Netherlands because it doesn't speak Dutch. The arrival of the Dutch-speaking Maatje-doll led to opportunities for further research.'

Research in disability care

In 2024, Vilans expanded the research on CSARs by including the disability care sector. Collaborating with two graduate students, they examined the socio-ethical aspects, desired functionalities and preferences regarding gender and voice of social robots in this sector. This provided valuable insights for the design and features of care robots. Some recommendations for future designs include:

• Design a robot capable of genuine social interactions.
• Ensure the robot is available in various genders and ethnicities.
• Use an adult voice as the default, with options for customization.
• Pose questions clearly and concisely to avoid confusion.
• Enable the robot to recognize and respond to the client's mood.

Case studies in rehabilitation care and care for older adults

In 2024, Vilans tested the Maatje (buddy) doll in rehabilitation and eldercare settings, yielding mixed results:

• In rehabilitation care the robot was well-received but was also perceived as stigmatizing due to its childlike design and was sometimes too complex for some clients. However, it could provide entertainment during times when caregivers are unavailable.
• In eldercare older adults with dementia responded positively. The robot helped alleviate anxiety in some clients, allowing caregivers to have 'free hands'. Nonetheless, not everyone accepted the robot. Some found it challenging to converse with a doll. This underscores the need for technology to be better tailored to the clients' needs and preferences.

Bob Hofstede emphasizes that technology should never be mandatory: 'Care robots must align with what clients want themselves. A strategy known as technology pull, rather than the so-called technology push.'

What is needed for the future?

To accurately measure the true effects of these care robots, it's essential to conduct longer-term research in elder, rehabilitation, and disability care among clients open to using them. This will enable Vilans to determine how the robots genuinely contribute to the quality of care and life. CSARs represent a promising development, but further research is necessary to fully understand their potential and areas for improvement.

Full research reports

• Master thesis Laura van der Bij (Eindhoven University of Technology & Vilans)
  Social Assistance of a Cuddly Robot. Van der Bij, L. N. (Author). 31 Jul 2024. Student thesis: Master
• Conference paper in Gerontechnology Journal
  B. M. Hofstede, T. R. C. van Hoesel, S. I. Askari, I. S. Lelieveld, I. Bierhoff, L. de Witte, H. H. Nap (2024). Evaluation of combining daytime structure, lifestyle-monitoring and social companionship in socially assistive robots for gerontechnology. Gerontechnology, 23(2), 1-1

For more details, download the full research reports (available only in Dutch):

• 'Verkennend onderzoek knuffelbare digitale zorgassistenten'(Exploratory Research on Hug-Able Digital Care Assistants).
• ‘Onderzoek naar Knuffelbare digitale zorgassistent’ (Research on Hug-Able Digital Care Assistant).