Affiliations: [a] Research Group on Rehabilitation and Inclusion, ARC Seibersdorf research GmbH, Viktor Kaplan Str. 2, A-2700 Wr. Neustadt, Austria. Tel.: +43 2622 69290 30; Fax: +43 2622 69290 24; E-Mail: barbara.prazak@arcsmed.at | [b] Mechatronic Automation Systems, Group for Intelligent Robotics, ARC Seibersdorf research GmbH, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria | [x] SIVA, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, via Capecelatro 66, I-20148 Milano, Italy. E-mail: serenella.besio@siva.it | [y] STAKES, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, PL 220, 00531 Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 40 5600935; E-mail: Anna-Liisa.Salminen@stakes.fi
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author.
Abstract: The aim of this project is to explore how children with physical disabilities could use a toy robot system for autonomous playing. Children with physical disabilities have difficulties interacting with the material environment and they have fewer possibilities for autonomous play. This paper reports the developmental process of a robot system and results of the first user trials with this system and the target group. Working with this toy robot system allows children with physical disabilities to independently manipulate the real objects in a play situation. Future development is outlined.
Keywords: rehabilitation robots, play for children with physical disabilities, robot assistance, human-machine-interface
