LuxAI, University of Birmingham and Luxembourg Institute of Health launch study of robot-led early support for autistic children
LuxAI, a robotics company, has announced a new study together with Birmingham University and the Luxembourg Institute of Health. The project will explore the use of a social robot in an early development program at home for autistic children.
Delivered through the QTrobot, the study will involve 69 families in the West Midlands, UK and claims to be the first large-scale longitudinal study of its kind. It is expected to conclude at the end of 2026.
The study will evaluate the impact of QTrobot with autistic children aged between 2.5 and 4.5 years old in key development areas such as communication and language, social skills, and learning.
"This is a landmark study for both early autism research and technology-supported learning," explains Dr Manon Gantenbein, Head of the Clinical and Epidemiological Investigation Center at LIH.
"So far, technologies like robots have shown very promising results in short-term, small-scale studies, but their long-term effectiveness and usability have never been systematically examined. For the first time, we are conducting a large-scale, long-term study to rigorously assess the impact of a robot-led programme designed to empower both children and their families through home-based support."
"Access to high-quality early support is still limited for many families across the world," adds Professor Karen Guldberg, Head of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham. "By combining research excellence and technology, this study could pave the way for engaging early support for autistic children and their families."
