Human Robot Interaction (HRI) between a humanoid robot and children with Cerebral Palsy: Experimental framework and measure of engagement

This paper describes the identification of engagement measures during Human Robot Interaction (HRI) between a humanoid robot and children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and its´ experimental framework. This paper begins with an introduction to CP, HRI and Socially Assistive Robotic (SAR). The importance of engagement in HRI and suggested attention measurement of HRI will be discussed. The paper presents the framework of the experiment consists of experimental flowchart, experimental layout, and four interactive scenarios will be explained in detail. In this study, four children with CP will be exposed to humanoid robot NAO once a week for a period of 8 weeks. The experiment will be done at Clinical Training Center (CTC), Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia. Each children with CP who has been selected will undergo initial and exit assessment which consists of Gross Motor Functional Measurement (GMFM), Time Up and Go (TUG) and also Trail Making Test (TMT). The results of the final evaluation will be used as a comparison between pre-and post-program interaction between robot and children with CP. This experiment will be done in the near future.