Interactive Robotics in Medicine and Care

The robot seal Paro is modeled on a harp seal pup and developed for therapeutic use in medicine and care. For this purpose, the 60-centimeter-long seal has tactile, visual, auditory, positional and thermal sensors under its fur. Paro can move her tail, head and eyes and imitate seal sounds. Her abilities include learning names and distinguishing up to 50 different voices. These qualities make her particularly suitable for regular personal interaction, allowing her to both focus attention and communicate.

The concept was inspired by animal-assisted therapies and is mainly used with dementia patients. The interaction with Paro is intended to make the affected person more talkative and encourage social interaction. With her fluffy fur, big eyes and puppy-like noises, she is particularly well suited to relaxing people and conveying a feeling of closeness and meaningfulness.