Project Wit: Humanoid Robots, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Based on the experiment “Humanoid Robots, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Specific Language Impairment” in which I was a research assistant under the leadership of Dr. Maria Isabel Cabezudo, this is an ongoing project to conduct a pilot experiment in London and Madrid. The experiment will test the effectiveness of linguistic and cognitive skill development therapy on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, assisted by an especially programmed humanoid robot called Wit. The ideal results would prove that the interaction between the child and the robot improves the social interactions and communicative skills, and that this interaction is more efficient than conventional therapy in increasing communicative and social abilities. These results would be expected to be maintained over time once the therapy is over, and ideally, the child would be able to take the robot home to practice therapy daily and even learn to program it.