A New Emotional Social Robotic Platform

In this paper, we present the development of an advanced social robot designed to assist older adults and children with medical conditions, focusing primarily on its potential for social interaction in these contexts. While the robot incorporates some emotional recognition and expression capabilities, the core of our work centers on the design and construction of the robot, aiming to provide a flexible platform for social engagement. The robot architecture integrates both hardware and software components optimized for interaction in care settings. Key features include various sensors, such as cameras and microphones, that enable the robot to perceive its environment and respond in ways that enhance user comfort. The robot's design allows for future expansions in emotional recognition and empathetic interaction, although these aspects are currently in a conceptual stage. This paper details the robot's physical construction and its overall design, emphasizing its potential to support users in social environments through interaction and communication. We discuss the various components and functionalities that make the robot a promising tool for assisting elderly individuals and children with medical conditions. Future work will involve further development of its emotional capabilities and real-world testing to evaluate its overall effectiveness.