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A Customizable Robot to Include Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective

Nowadays, more than 1% of the children below the age of 14 are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interaction/communication. The social and financial cost of this disorder are enormous, both for the families and for the national health systems. Most of the costs are related to special education and this hinders the inclusion in the society of children with ASD, whose talent is often squandered.

Recent studies have proved that robotics can play a crucial role in this domain: robots are perceived by children with autism as being more predictable less complicated and threatening than humans. In the last few years, several robots have been launched to the market as educational and social aids; yet, no existing solution is affordable for families and provides enough flexibility to be tailored to the needs of a specific child. Hookie – the robot described in this proposal – fills exactly this niche, being customizable and affordable.

Hookie is 3D printed (and hence families can create it together with their children) and based on a standard user interface, such as a smartphone. The system is at TRL 7: two iterations of design-trials have already been performed with specialised hospitals, and the results are very encouraging. It is now time to perform the business activities around the technology. This proposal describes the objectives of a feasibility study aimed at launching Hookie in nine EU markets (four in a first phase and other five later on). Upon the successful completion of the feasibility study, we will seek additional funds via different sources (including the SME phase 2 scheme) to take the product up to TRL 9 and eventually to full commercialization.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017

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Coordinator

DYNA TECH 2012 SCP
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
SANT GERVASI DE CASSOLES 85 ESC A 1 1
08022 BARCELONA
Spain

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00

Participants (1)

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