ALAN: An Adaptive Social Robot for Teaching Emotional Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Resumo
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects skills related to communication, social interaction, and behaviour from early childhood, with a significant increase in diagnoses observed over the last decade. In this context, early intervention plays a fundamental role in the development of the affected abilities. Several therapeutic approaches have been employed to stimulate cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children with ASD. Among these approaches, robotics has shown promising results in supporting therapies aimed at autistic children. However, challenges still remain regarding the ability of robots to express emotions naturally, stimulate social interactions such as eye contact and physical interaction, and adapt teaching strategies to the specific needs of each child. Therefore, this work proposes a robotic platform for teaching emotional skills to children diagnosed with ASD. The robot has an appearance designed to be friendly, being capable of expressing emotions and sounds, as well as conducting educational activities and games focused on emotional recognition and learning. In addition, the platform collects data during interactions, enabling the adaptation of the teaching process according to the progress and difficulties observed in each individual. Thus, the proposed platform seeks to contribute to the development of emotional skills in children with ASD by providing a therapeutic environment that can be perceived as more welcoming, interactive, and personalized.
Palavras-chave:
Socially Assistive Robotics, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional Skills, Affective Computing, Educational Games, Adaptive Models
Referências
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Ekman, P. and Friesen, W. (1978). Facial action coding system. Alto: Consulting Psychologist Press.
Ekman, P., Sorenson, E., and Friesen, W. V. (1969). Pan-cultural elements in facial displays of emotion. Science, 164(3875):86–88.
Gouaillier, D., Hugel, V., Blazevic, P., Kilner, C., Monceaux, J., Lafourcade, P., Marnier, B., Serre, J., and Maisonnier, B. (2009). Mechatronic design of nao humanoid. In 2009 IEEE international conference on robotics and automation, pages 769–774, Kobe, Japan. IEEE.
Hanson, D., Baurmann, S., Riccio, T., Margolin, R., Dockins, T., Tavares, M., and Carpenter, K. (2009). Zeno: A cognitive character. In Ai magazine, and special proc. of AAAI national conference, Chicago.
Hryntsiv, M., Zamishchak, M., Bondarenko, Y., Suprun, H., and Dushka, A. (2025). Approaches to speech therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders (asd). International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 14(1):32–45.
Hurst, N., Clabaugh, C., Baynes, R., Cohn, J., Mitroff, D., and Scherer, S. (2020). Social and emotional skills training with embodied moxie. arXiv preprint arXiv:2004.12962.
Islam, M. A., Hasan, M. M., and Deowan, S. A. (2023). Robot-assisted training for children with autism spectrum disorder: a review. Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems, 108(3):41.
Ismail, L. I., Verhoeven, T., Dambre, J., and Wyffels, F. (2018). Leveraging robotics research for children with autism: a review. International Journal of Social Robotics, 11:389–410.
Jain, S., Thiagarajan, B., Shi, Z., Clabaugh, C., and Matarić, M. J. (2020). Modeling engagement in long-term, in-home socially assistive robot interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Science Robotics, 5(39):eaaz3791.
Kedzierski, J. and Janiak, M. (2012). Construction of the social robot flash. In Scientific Papers on Electronics, page 681–694, Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw University of Technology. (in Polish).
Mittal, P., Bhadania, M., Tondak, N., Ajmera, P., Yadav, S., Kukreti, A., Kalra, S., and Ajmera, P. (2024). Effect of immersive virtual reality-based training on cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 151:104771.
Okoye, C., Obialo-Ibeawuchi, C. M., Obajeun, O. A., Sarwar, S., Tawfik, C., Waleed, M. S., Wasim, A. U., Mohamoud, I., Afolayan, A. Y., and Mbaezue, R. N. (2023). Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: a review and analysis of the risks and benefits. Cureus, 15(8).
Panceri, J. A. C., Freitas, É., de Souza, J. C., da Luz Schreider, S., Caldeira, E., and Bastos, T. F. (2021). A new socially assistive robot with integrated serious games for therapies with children with autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome: A pilot study. Sensors, 21(24):8414.
Plutchik, R. (1982). A psychoevolutionary theory of emotions.
Qin, L., Wang, H., Ning, W., Cui, M., and Wang, Q. (2024). New advances in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. European Journal of Medical Research, 29(1):322.
Restoy, D., Oriol-Escudé, M., Alonzo-Castillo, T., Magán-Maganto, M., Canal-Bedia, R., Díez-Villoria, E., et al. (2024). Emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of evaluation and intervention studies. Clinical Psy. Review, 109:102410.
Saleh, M. A., Hanapiah, F. A., and Hashim, H. (2021). Robot applications for autism: a comprehensive review. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16(6):580–602.
So, W. C. (2020). Robot for autism behavioral intervention. The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
SoftBank, M. C. and Aldebaran, R. S. (2014). Softbank mobile and aldebaran unveil "pepper" – the world's first personal robot that reads emotions. SoftBank Press Releases, 1:1–1.
Sukiennik, R., Marchezan, J., and Scornavacca, F. (2022). Challenges on diagnoses and assessments related to autism spectrum disorder in brazil: a systematic review. Frontiers in Neurology, 12:598073.
Syriopoulou-Delli, C. K. and Gkiolnta, E. (2022). Review of assistive technology in the training of children with autism spectrum disorders. International journal of developmental disabilities, 68(2):73–85.
Wohofsky, L., Scharf, P., Lattacher, S. L., and Krainer, D. (2022). Assistive technology to support people with autism spectrum disorder in their autonomy and safety: A scoping review. Technology and Disability, 34(1):1–11.
Wood, L. J., Zaraki, A., Robins, B., and Dautenhahn, K. (2021). Developing kaspar: a humanoid robot for children with autism. International Journal of Social Robotics, 13:491–508.
Yeung, M. K. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of facial emotion recognition in autism spectrum disorder: The specificity of deficits and the role of task characteristics. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 133:104518.
Zeidan, J., Fombonne, E., Scorah, J., Ibrahim, A., Durkin, M. S., Saxena, S., Yusuf, A., Shih, A., and Elsabbagh, M. (2022). Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism research, 15(5):778–790.
Ziafati, P. and Nazarikhorram, A. (2017). Qtrobot. educational robot for at home education of children with autism.
Borgi, M. and Cirulli, F. (2013). Children's preferences for infantile features in dogs and cats. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 1(2):1–15.
Ekman, P. and Friesen, W. (1978). Facial action coding system. Alto: Consulting Psychologist Press.
Ekman, P., Sorenson, E., and Friesen, W. V. (1969). Pan-cultural elements in facial displays of emotion. Science, 164(3875):86–88.
Gouaillier, D., Hugel, V., Blazevic, P., Kilner, C., Monceaux, J., Lafourcade, P., Marnier, B., Serre, J., and Maisonnier, B. (2009). Mechatronic design of nao humanoid. In 2009 IEEE international conference on robotics and automation, pages 769–774, Kobe, Japan. IEEE.
Hanson, D., Baurmann, S., Riccio, T., Margolin, R., Dockins, T., Tavares, M., and Carpenter, K. (2009). Zeno: A cognitive character. In Ai magazine, and special proc. of AAAI national conference, Chicago.
Hryntsiv, M., Zamishchak, M., Bondarenko, Y., Suprun, H., and Dushka, A. (2025). Approaches to speech therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders (asd). International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 14(1):32–45.
Hurst, N., Clabaugh, C., Baynes, R., Cohn, J., Mitroff, D., and Scherer, S. (2020). Social and emotional skills training with embodied moxie. arXiv preprint arXiv:2004.12962.
Islam, M. A., Hasan, M. M., and Deowan, S. A. (2023). Robot-assisted training for children with autism spectrum disorder: a review. Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems, 108(3):41.
Ismail, L. I., Verhoeven, T., Dambre, J., and Wyffels, F. (2018). Leveraging robotics research for children with autism: a review. International Journal of Social Robotics, 11:389–410.
Jain, S., Thiagarajan, B., Shi, Z., Clabaugh, C., and Matarić, M. J. (2020). Modeling engagement in long-term, in-home socially assistive robot interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Science Robotics, 5(39):eaaz3791.
Kedzierski, J. and Janiak, M. (2012). Construction of the social robot flash. In Scientific Papers on Electronics, page 681–694, Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw University of Technology. (in Polish).
Mittal, P., Bhadania, M., Tondak, N., Ajmera, P., Yadav, S., Kukreti, A., Kalra, S., and Ajmera, P. (2024). Effect of immersive virtual reality-based training on cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 151:104771.
Okoye, C., Obialo-Ibeawuchi, C. M., Obajeun, O. A., Sarwar, S., Tawfik, C., Waleed, M. S., Wasim, A. U., Mohamoud, I., Afolayan, A. Y., and Mbaezue, R. N. (2023). Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: a review and analysis of the risks and benefits. Cureus, 15(8).
Panceri, J. A. C., Freitas, É., de Souza, J. C., da Luz Schreider, S., Caldeira, E., and Bastos, T. F. (2021). A new socially assistive robot with integrated serious games for therapies with children with autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome: A pilot study. Sensors, 21(24):8414.
Plutchik, R. (1982). A psychoevolutionary theory of emotions.
Qin, L., Wang, H., Ning, W., Cui, M., and Wang, Q. (2024). New advances in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. European Journal of Medical Research, 29(1):322.
Restoy, D., Oriol-Escudé, M., Alonzo-Castillo, T., Magán-Maganto, M., Canal-Bedia, R., Díez-Villoria, E., et al. (2024). Emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of evaluation and intervention studies. Clinical Psy. Review, 109:102410.
Saleh, M. A., Hanapiah, F. A., and Hashim, H. (2021). Robot applications for autism: a comprehensive review. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16(6):580–602.
So, W. C. (2020). Robot for autism behavioral intervention. The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
SoftBank, M. C. and Aldebaran, R. S. (2014). Softbank mobile and aldebaran unveil "pepper" – the world's first personal robot that reads emotions. SoftBank Press Releases, 1:1–1.
Sukiennik, R., Marchezan, J., and Scornavacca, F. (2022). Challenges on diagnoses and assessments related to autism spectrum disorder in brazil: a systematic review. Frontiers in Neurology, 12:598073.
Syriopoulou-Delli, C. K. and Gkiolnta, E. (2022). Review of assistive technology in the training of children with autism spectrum disorders. International journal of developmental disabilities, 68(2):73–85.
Wohofsky, L., Scharf, P., Lattacher, S. L., and Krainer, D. (2022). Assistive technology to support people with autism spectrum disorder in their autonomy and safety: A scoping review. Technology and Disability, 34(1):1–11.
Wood, L. J., Zaraki, A., Robins, B., and Dautenhahn, K. (2021). Developing kaspar: a humanoid robot for children with autism. International Journal of Social Robotics, 13:491–508.
Yeung, M. K. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of facial emotion recognition in autism spectrum disorder: The specificity of deficits and the role of task characteristics. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 133:104518.
Zeidan, J., Fombonne, E., Scorah, J., Ibrahim, A., Durkin, M. S., Saxena, S., Yusuf, A., Shih, A., and Elsabbagh, M. (2022). Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism research, 15(5):778–790.
Ziafati, P. and Nazarikhorram, A. (2017). Qtrobot. educational robot for at home education of children with autism.
Publicado
05/10/2026
Como Citar
DINIZ, Cássio W. M.; MELO, Sara L.; TINOCO, Claudiney R..
ALAN: An Adaptive Social Robot for Teaching Emotional Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE INFORMÁTICA NA EDUCAÇÃO (SBIE), 37. , 2026, Goiânia/GO.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2026
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p. 1204-1218.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/sbie.2026.27676.
