China's first humanoid robot for diagnosis and treatment of autism has opened up new possibilities for autism rehabilitation and long-term care.
More than 13 million people in China are living with autism. Difficulties in screening, intervention, and rehabilitation have remained urgent challenges for their families.
The humanoid robot is capable of precisely capturing and interpreting subtle signals from the human brain, and translating them into its coordinated movements.
It combines brain-computer interface technology with humanoid robotics to support early screening and educational intervention for children with autism, and it enables more natural and varied interactions, which help children with autism feel more comfortable and engaged, said Kong Xiangzeng, executive dean of the Artificial Intelligence research institute under the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou City of east China's Fujian Province.
"Brain signals are millions of times weaker than mobile phone signals. Blinking and heartbeat can also interfere, making them difficult to separate. Our team uses non-invasive, high-precision EEG technology to capture these weak signals without surgery," said Zhang Zhongji, assistant researcher with the institute.
Control algorithms independently developed by the research team can filter out interferences in real time, identify specific brainwave patterns and accurately translate them into control commands for the robot.
Healthcare specialists say early screening and rehabilitation are crucial for people with autism, yet current approaches often lack objective data.
Through "mind-based interactions" with children, the robot converts attention levels and motor imagery into measurable data, making screening more precise and rehabilitation more scientific and efficient.
At present, the project has received support from 11 national key research programs, with a complete technology chain and full independent intellectual property rights.
The robot has already been put into use and is now being applied in collaboration with hospitals and autism rehabilitation centers.
"When a child struggles to respond to certain questions, the robot can guide them more flexibly and quickly toward the correct answer. It also provides therapists with precise baseline data, making it easier for them to work together with the parents to develop personalized treatment plans for the child's next stage of therapy," said Kong.
The team says the humanoid robot platform will continue to expand beyond autism rehabilitation.
In the future, it is expected to support active rehabilitation for patients with stroke, spinal cord injuries, and other motor impairments, helping more people with neurological disorders regain everyday functional abilities.
China's first humanoid robot for autism treatment offers new possibilities for rehabilitation
