Paro (robot)

Paro is a 60 cm long personal robot (english medical commitment robot ), which is used for therapeutic purposes. Paro is a doll that was modeled after the foal of a harp seal. You should have a calming effect on patients. The idea is based on experiences of animal assisted therapy.

The robot has under his bright fluffy fur on tactile sensors and can perceive about it, when a man stroking him. Paro it reacts with the movement of the tail and the head and the eyes. The robot also responds to sounds and can learn names. Paro itself makes noises similar to those of real harp seal cubs. Other than these Paro is programmed so that it is not at night, but only on the day active.

Paro was developed in Japan by Takanori Shibata at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology ( AIST ) since 1993. The robot was introduced to the public in 2001. It is sold since 2004. Also in Germany Paro is used in more than 40 nursing homes as a therapy agent in the care of people with dementia. Patients should thus be more talkative and dissolved. The robot should trigger cues. It is intended to support the care, not replace it.

Paro has been shown, among others, in the exhibition " All generations in the same boat" as part of the Year of Science 2013 "The demographic opportunity" on the MS science.