Design of Companion Robots for the Elderly from an Inclusive Perspective

With the rapid aging of China's population and the growing number of elderly individuals, the mental health of this demographic has increasingly garnered attention from society. Grounded in inclusive design theory, this study analyzes the needs of the elderly population and proposes a companion robot design. This design is informed by an analysis of the current research on existing robots, the physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly, and the results of a questionnaire survey. The findings of this study indicate that inclusive design is a feasible approach for developing companion robots for the elderly, contributing to improvements in their psychological well-being and overall quality of life.