Project Abstract

Dementia continues to pose a growing challenge to global health systems, significantly impacting patients and caregivers. AS traditional care methods tend to fall short of addressing the social, emotional, cognitive aspects of the disease, there is a growing need for innovative, multi-faceted solutions. This project aims to explore a opportunity to combine the proven benefits of horticultural therapy with the emerging capabilities of social robotics to provide a holistic, engaging and cost-effective solution for individuals with dementia. This research proposes the development of a robotic companion that integrates plant care routines with interactive behaviours to promote cognitive stimulation, emotional well-being and a sense of purpose. The key research question investigates whether a system can provide therapeutic benefits compared to traditional therapy. The project adopts a Spiral software development life cycle, allowing iterative design, development and testing. Using Arduino hardware, the robot is being developed to autonomously support plant care. So far, the foundational robot structure has been constructed using an Arduino robot kit, excluding the watering mechanism, which will be future integration. Although results pending, it is anticipated that the system will demonstrate usability in low-supervision environments and foster user engagement through its dual function as companion and gardening assistant. Expected outcome include increased interaction, reduced anxiety and enhanced independence among patients. If successful, this project will contribute a novel, user-cantered therapeutic tool to the field of assistive technologies. It will offer insights into how low-cost robotics can address complex healthcare needs, paving the way for more accessible and inclusive dementia care solutions in the future.

Keywords: Social Companion Robot, Dementia Support Technology, Interactive Horticultural Therapy

 Conference Details

Session: A

Location: Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium at 11:00 13:00

Markers: Deepak Sahoo, Xianghua Xie

Course: BSc Computer Science 4yr FT

Future Plans: I’m looking for work