Clinical Robotics

Empowering Researchers with Better Tools

Social robots, which are designed to interact with humans in a socially intelligent way, are increasingly being introduced in pediatric healthcare settings. Studies show that these robots can help support young patients and their families during hospital stays by providing distractions, emotional comfort, and helpful information. However, many healthcare robots are historically developed based on expert assumptions rather than direct input from end-users, leading to a gap between design intentions and real patient needs.

This interactive, animated survey platform is designed to help researchers and healthcare leaders uncover the authentic perspectives of pediatric patients and their caregivers regarding robotics in care settings.

An Interactive Journey Through the Hospital

The digital survey transforms traditional data collection into an engaging narrative. Participants accompany an animated guide character on its first day working at a hospital. Together, they navigate various hospital departments, meeting different social robots along the way. Through gamified interactions, the robots ask participants for their honest feedback on how technology can best assist children and families during their care journey.

Better Tools for a Better Healthcare Experience

This interactive survey plays a critical role in shaping the future of pediatric healthcare robotics. By gathering insights directly from key stakeholders—patients and their families—the tool provides researchers with actionable data on novel, patient-approved use cases. As technology evolves rapidly, involving end-users throughout the research process ensures that future innovation is emotionally aligned, human-centered, and directed toward solutions that truly matter.