Socially assistive robotics [Grand challenges of robotics]

Assistive robotics are generally designed to enhance the quality of life for broad populations of users: the elderly, individuals with physical impairments and those in rehabilitation therapy, and individuals with cognitive disabilities and developmental and social disorders. However, these systems pose a new challenge of being both population-relevant and highly individualized to the special needs of each user in the particular beneficiary population. Generally, the challenges of these robotics systems fall under six broad and naturally inter-related, research topics: embodiment, personality, empathy, engagement, adaptation and transfer. To address these challenges effectively, the board technical community and the beneficiary populations must work together to shape the field toward its intended impact on improved human quality of life.