Logo: University of Southern California

Children With Autism Learn Imitation Skills from Robot

Maja Matarić and her team show that socially-assistive robots can help kids with ASD learn imitation behavior
By: Regina Wu
September 09, 2014 —

Maja Matarić and her team conducted research on how socially-assistive humanoid robots can help children with autism practice imitation behavior. They presented their findings from a pilot study at the 23rd IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication Conference in Edinburgh on August 27th. 

The pilot study was led by Maja Matarić, USC Viterbi Vice Dean for Research and the Chan Soon-Shiong Chair in Computer Science, Neuroscience and Pediatrics, whose research focuses on how robotics can help those with various special needs, including Alzheimer’s patients and children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Her research team included doctoral student Jillian Greczek, postdoctoral researcher Amin Atrash, and undergraduate computer science student Edward Kaszubski.

Below is a sampling of recent of media articles about this research.

Humanoid robots could help autistic children practice imitation behavior, according to USC Viterbi School of Engineering researchers, based on a new study.

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This week, a team of researchers from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering will share results from a pilot study on the effects of using humanoid robots to help children with autism practice imitation behavior in order to encourage their autonomy.

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Researchers from the Bradley Hospital have identified a change in the gene which has been known to influence autism outcomes. The findings that were published this week in the Journal of Medical Genetics give new insight into possible causes of autism spectrum disorders.

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A team of researchers from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering share results from a pilot study on the effects of using humanoid robots to help children with autism practice imitation behavior in order to encourage their autonomy. 

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Robots have been proven to be beneficial in helping children with autism remember how to do things and to learn new tasks. The pilot study that proves robots are as effective as humans if not more effective was developed by Maja Matarić, University of Southern California Viterbi Vice Dean for Research and Chair in Computer Science, Neuroscience and Pediatrics, and colleagues at the University of Southern California.

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A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has found that humanoid robots can help children with autism spectrum disorder learn new skills and improve social behaviors.

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Een onderzoeksteam van de ingenieursschool USC Viterbi in de VS ontwikkelt robots met menselijke trekjes, bedoeld om kinderen met autisme bij te staan.

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