Pets, both Real and Robotic

Normal interaction with animals has been shown to increase a child's physiological health, social competence, and learning opportunities. Therefore, it is not surprising that companion animals are more common in families with young children. In addition, there has been a movement to create technological substitutes for pets, such as the Tamagotchi, Furby, Tama, and AIBO. As this technology becomes more pervasive and sophisticated, its impact on children's lives will increase. How automated imitations of animals, i.e., robotic pets, impact a child's cognitive, social, and moral development is now being studied.

The studies with children and robotic pets are designed to better understand child development, and there is no expectation that robots will replace the family pet. That will probably never happen.

However, there may be situations when robotic pets can provide at least some of the benefits of real pets - in the same ways real pets provide some of the benefits of human contact. The benefits of both robotic and real pets are particularly important when human companions are less available.

According to projections from the Census Bureau, the elderly population will more than double (to 80 million people) between now and the year 2050. Our society must find ways to provide physical and emotional care for our increasingly aged population.

One part of the answer may lie at the intersection of robotics and the human-animal bond. Hundreds of clinical reports show that when animals enter the lives of aged patients with either Alzheimer's disease or arteriosclerosis, the patients smile and laugh more, are less hostile to their caretakers, and are more socially communicative. Other studies have shown that in a nursing home or residential care center, the petting, talking, and walking a pet can serve as a catalyst for communication among residents who are withdrawn, and provide opportunities for physical and recreational therapy. It is now widely accepted that the physiological health and emotional well being of the elderly are enhanced by contact with animals.

Nevertheless, many elderly live in places that either prohibit pets or are not conducive to animals due to the physical layout of their buildings. In addition, some physiological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, may make animal ownership difficult for the individual and unsafe for the animal.

Thus, it possible that a robotic pet can provide the elderly with some of the physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits of live pets. In addition, unlike real dogs, robotic pets do not feel the pain of neglect or poor management. Future robotic pets will have related sensors to better monitor the older patient. Thus, the robotic dog could someday be thought of as health-information data gathering and transmission system, as well as a "companion."

To assess the possibility of using robotic pets with older adults, the Center for the Human-Animal Bond has begun a study that pairs the SONY AIBO robotic dog with an older adult who lives alone. The person lives with the AIBO, keeping a journal of activities, which includes times with other people and important daily activities. Who knows, maybe in this one special setting, the robotic dog can serve some of the benefits of a real pet. This study will also demonstrate once again how important animals are for all of us.

NOTE: All Center robotic studies are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).