Development of Design of Initial Cat Robot Model for the Use of Early Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Abstract

According to the result of FGI's analysis, elements of function and motion have to be prepared for a cat robot was grasped. In consideration of these elements, guidelines to the construction of shape and motions for the design of the cat robot were established. By applying these guidelines, the design of outer shape of the cat robot was developed. And a cat robot's structures, electrical circuits, and driving program for the treatment of children with ASD were suggested. This study conducted FGIs in order to learn the necessary or desirable motions and functionalities robots should have to be used for treating children with ASD. According to the results, elements of functions and motions should have to be prepared for the cat robot was grasped. In order to design of the robot for the treatment of children with ASD, guidelines of design interaction should be constructed. To this end awareness and preference of the cat's face were grasped by a survey. Besides, to decide on the proportion of each of the cat's body parts, the proportions of real cats, doll cats and animated cats were researched. To assist a treatment, personified facial expressions and motions were applied to design. According to these guidelines, the design of the cat robot's outer shape was developed. In order to design the robot's architecture for children with ASD, a rigid support structure should be designed that can express a variety of emotions in the face and body representing various emotions and gestures. In this paper, we suggest the cat robot's structures, electrical circuits, and driving program for the treatment of children with ASD.