Overview
- CSIC researchers working on the Emorobcare project ran initial pilot sessions in June 2026 in Madrid with specialists from Deletrea to test language‑focused therapeutic activities.
- The device combines speech‑to‑text, language models, voice generators using cloned actor voices, and computer vision to detect speech, gestures and attention in real time.
- An emotional decision model drives the robot’s choices by scoring predefined ‘vital objectives’ and selecting actions such as telling a joke, continuing a game or changing activities to maximize expected utility.
- Therapists described the robot as a motivating co‑therapist that provides concrete stimuli like lights and varied voice tones to support engagement, and developers emphasize a low‑cost design with broader uses in elder care, language teaching and hospitals.
- The project remains at an early feasibility stage with promising demonstrations but no published results from longer trials or systematic efficacy studies, so further testing, safety review and evaluation of clinical benefits are the next steps to watch for.