Musically Assistive Robot for the Elderly in Isolation

Abstract

COVID pandemic has impacted our lives in ways that we could not have imagined, introducing us to a new normalcy. Older adults, especially those in care facilities, are often discussed as one of the most vulnerable populations to challenges that the pandemic poses, including social isolation and loneliness. We hence present our robot, M.A.R (Music Assistive Robot) i/o, intended to bring some joy and entertainment through a universal language - music. Our prototype, therefore, attempts to facilitate music participation among older adults by playing the music of choice and inviting them to enjoy listening through its expressive movements and adaptive drumming skills.