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ArchiveCase2005–2021, later unknown

Kaspar: a university research robot with a deliberately limited face

Kaspar is a child-sized humanoid built at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK for research with autistic children. Research with 28 prototypes ran in schools, homes and hospitals, but whether a commercial version ever came out is unconfirmed.

University of Hertfordshire -- KASPAR Campaign · University of Hertfordshire (YouTube)
DeveloperProf. Kerstin Dautenhahn’s team at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. Robot work for autistic children began in 1998; the Kaspar project began in 2005
FormA child-sized humanoid with a silicone rubber mask face, cameras in its eyes and a mouth that opens and smiles. Touch sensors on the cheeks, arms, body, hands and feet
Build costAbout £1,300 ($2,118) (2011 report)
SettingResearch and therapy sessions in schools, homes and hospitals
Reach28 prototypes (as of 2017). About 170–300 children in studies (sources differ)
CommercialisationA school and home version through Canada’s Compusult was previewed in 2020. Release not confirmed
NowNo activity confirmed after the one-year Kaspar Explains project in 2021
Ended byNot confirmed. It is a university research robot rather than a product on sale
Research robot; commercial release and current research unconfirmed

Timeline

  1. 2005Project startUniversity of Hertfordshire
  2. 201728 prototypesPilot trial announced
  3. 2020Commercial versionVia Compusult, Canada
  4. 2021Kaspar ExplainsOne-year project, later unknown

A child-sized robot with a deliberately limited face

Kaspar is a child-sized humanoid built by Prof. Kerstin Dautenhahn’s team at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. The team began building therapeutic toy robots for autistic children in 1998 and started the Kaspar project in 2005. Its face is a silicone rubber mask, its eyes hold cameras, and its mouth opens and smiles. The expressions were kept simple on purpose. The design drew on comics and Japanese Noh theatre and used low-cost off-the-shelf parts. A 2011 report put the build cost at about £1,300. Touch sensors sit on the cheeks, arms, body, hands and feet.

28 prototypes, and studies in schools and hospitals

Kaspar was revised through field trials, and new parts were 3D printed. By 2017 there were 28 prototypes. Kaspar was used in schools, homes and hospitals. A pre-school in Stevenage used it every week, and the local autism charity TRACKS Autism also took part. In April 2017 a pilot trial funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was announced, following 40 children aged 5 to 10 over two years. Under the aim of “a Kaspar in every school”, the university raised donations to turn the prototype into an affordable robot. In 2020 a school and home version through Canada’s Compusult was previewed.

Easier because it is predictable

Researcher Ben Robins said: “Robots are much safer for them because there’s less for them to interpret and they are very predictable.” About 170–300 children (sources differ) took part in studies. Even so, a 2011 report noted that only case studies on up to a dozen children had been published and there had been no long-term trials. In 2021 the university ran the one-year Kaspar Explains project with King’s College London and Compusult, funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

A design that aimed for less

Kaspar chose to reduce its expressions rather than enrich them, on the view that a face with less to interpret can be easier for autistic children. As a university research robot, however, it stayed at the prototype stage for a long time. It is worth comparing with QTrobot, which also began in university research but went on to sales through a spin-off company.

Which of this product’s expressions would make users more comfortable if you took them away?

What we haven’t confirmed

  • The results of the NIHR pilot trial announced in 2017
  • Whether the Compusult commercial version was actually released and sold
  • Whether research has continued since 2021
  • The total number of children in studies (about 170 or about 300, depending on the source)

Sources

  1. Computerworld, “‘Kaspar’ the robot helps autistic kids play,” 19 June 2007
  2. Dautenhahn et al., “KASPAR - a minimally expressive humanoid robot for human-robot interaction research,” Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 2009
  3. eSchool News, “Kaspar the friendly robot helps autistic kids,” 2011
  4. PoliticsHome, “Uni designs robot for autistic kids” (University of Hertfordshire content), 23 May 2013
  5. University of Hertfordshire, “Kaspar the social robot”
  6. University of Hertfordshire, “Kaspar’s journey”
  7. University of Hertfordshire, “Meet Kaspar”
  8. University of Hertfordshire, “Support Kaspar’s social mission”
  9. Wood et al., “The Iterative Development of the Humanoid Robot Kaspar: An Assistive Robot for Children with Autism,” 2017
  10. University of Hertfordshire impact case study, “Robots for health and social care”
  11. ATIA, “Get to Know the KASPAR Robot for Children with Autism,” 21 September 2020
  12. University Alliance, “Hertfordshire helping children with autism understand the world with Kaspar the social robot,” 29 July 2021