Abstract

Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) to detect anxiety levels in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a condition often accompanied by difficulties in recognising and expressing emotions, including anxiety. Early recognition of anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is crucial as it can affect their behaviour and social interactions. This SAR monitors vital signs namely blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature. This study involved children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with two conditions, namely Asperger Syndrome and Classical Autism who interacted with a Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) equipped with a tensimeter (MPS20N0040D sensor) for blood pressure, MAX30100 sensor for heart rate, and MLX90614 sensor to measure body temperature. Results show that the Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) is able to measure vital signs with high accuracy and provide an indication of anxiety levels effectively, as vital signs correlate with anxiety levels. These findings demonstrate the potential of the Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) as a reliable tool in anxiety monitoring in children with ASD, with important implications for the development of future therapeutic interventions