QTrobot

A collaborative research project between the University of Birmingham, LuxAI, Luxembourg Institute of Health and University of Luxembourg exploring the impact of at-home use of a socially assistive robot (QTrobot) with autistic children in the early years.
QTrobot is unique, not only because it is a robot, but because it can be used at home, giving parents’ control and insights into their child’s support needs and development. QTrobot has a set of learning activities based on early childhood development and research about the areas of development that autistic children can find challenging.
The aim of this research is to explore the 2-generational impact this unique approach has; on the autistic child's cognitive, language and social skills; and the parents’ self-efficacy. This research is the first of its kind, worldwide, due three defining feature:
1) Providing parents with a free socially assistive robot: QTrobot
2) QTrobot will be managed by parents in the home setting
3) QTrobot will be used to 10 months

QTrobot is about 65cm tall, can speak, move its arms and show emotions through a screen on its head. It is specifically designed to support autistic children in their development of 4 key early developmental skills:
1. Understanding of Language
2. Using Language to communicate
3. Social Skills
4. Cognitive Skills.
QTrobot works alongside 2 tablets (1 for the child and 1 for the parent) upon which structured activities are presented for the child to engage with.
Over a 10 month period parents will get to use a QTrobot in their homes, free of charge. They will get a personalised learning plan for their child and activities set that are targeted to support their early development. Throughout this time the University of Birmingham team will gather data both from the parents and the child, in the form of standardised assessments but also thoughts, opinions and experiences. This will help us build a more holistic picture of the impact QTrobot has had on all members of the family.