Tombot Creates Robotic Dog Companion for Dementia Therapy

An estimated 97% of dementia sufferers experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of the disease (BPSD). Such symptoms, according to studies, can be reduced if the individuals form an emotional bond, especially to an object or animal. Tombot Robotics has now created a realistic robotic dog that can provide seniors with a stronger sense of control, connectedness, and purpose, ultimately reducing their symptoms.

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After conducting multiple testing with groups comprising of up to 700 individuals with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, researchers at Tombot concluded that a robotic animal with a hyper-realistic appearance, feel and behaviors can greatly elicit an emotional attachment with seniors suffering from these types of neurodegenerative diseases.

Tombot decided to invent a whole new type of robotthat would give the seniors a feel of a real pet. So, they turned to Jim Henson's world-renowned Creature Shop to provide the artistic design services for their robots.

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“Drawing upon their Academy Award-winning animatronics skills, Jim Henson's Creature Shop wonderfully captured Tombot's vision, creating a Labrador puppy fit for the big screen. The Tombot robotics team then brought the puppy to life, with a full suite of sensors and inventing software control systems to make the puppy both autonomous and fully interactive,” saysa press release.

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“Virtually all of Tombot's investors have (or had) loved ones with dementia. Through these interactions, we have come to appreciate that the benefits we are delivering aren't just for seniors with dementia, but also for those most responsible for their ongoing care and well-being,” said Tombot CEO Tom Stevens.

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Some of the Distinguishing features of the New Tombot Puppy

·         Realistic Appearance. A user-friendly design that is authentic to a real dog's anatomy. Tombot Puppies look, feel and move in a hyper-realistic way, far exceeding anything currently available in the animal robotics space.

·         Lifelike Expressions & Behavior. Software control system that allows the robot to respond to users in a manner consistent with how a real dog would respond.

·         Response to Voice Commands. Voice recognition system that listens to commands and responds accordingly.

·         Affordability. Roughly one-fifteenth the price of the Paro robot, the next best robot in the dementia space.

·         Easy Charging. Provides all-day battery life with a cord that plugs in for overnight charging.

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Dementia Caregivers Want Robots for Joy and Sorrow to Take Care of Patients

Example of one of the robots designed by caregivers (Image Credit: Healthcare Robotics Lab/University of California San Diego)

A bit of robotic assistance can help people with dementia and their caregivers. Robots current available for the elderly help them around the house but there aren’t many robots that assist people with dementia. So, researchers at the University of California, San Diego wanted to find out what kinds of robots would actually help. They spent six months co-designing robots with informal caregivers for people with dementia, such as family members. 

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They found that caregivers wanted the robots to fulfill two major roles: support positive moments shared by caregivers and their loved ones; and lessen caregivers' emotional stress by taking on difficult tasks, such as answering repeated questions and restricting unhealthy food.


“Caregivers conceived of robots not only managing difficult aspects of caregiving -- but also for supporting joyful and fun activities,” said Laurel Riek, a professor of computer science at UC San Diego, and the paper's senior author.


For the study, the research team led by Riek built relationships with three different dementia day care centers in San Diego County, reportsUC-San Diego.

Image: Creative commons

Researchers conducted a series of interviews and hands-on workshops with caregivers.

• Based on the results of the six-month long community design process, the team identified various characteristics and designs a robot should have to support the caregivers and patients with dementia:
• Robots should help redirect conversations when repetitive questioning becomes burdensome
• Robots should be integrated into everyday objects that the people with dementia are already familiar with, or borrow features from those objects.
• Robots should be able to adapt to new situations and to the behavior of the person with dementia.
• Robots should be able to learn from end users, and customize and personalize their interaction and responses.
• Robots should have human-like components. That is not to say that they should look human. Rather the machines could, for example, use a real human voice or face.

·       Robots should have human-like components. That is not to say that they should look human. Rather the machines could, for example, use a real human voice or face.

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The researchers presented their findings at the Human Robot Interaction conference in South Korea.

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