"An Emotional Support Animal, Without the Animal": Design Guidelines for a Social Robot to Address Symptoms of Depression

Socially assistive robots offer an opportunity for utilizing therapeutic technologies within the context of depression and its symptoms. Through two workshop methodologies with individuals living with depression, as well as workshops with clinicians, design guidelines for developing a more personalized robot are presented. Focusing on the design of Therabot™, a customizable robot, individuals living with depression and co-morbidities, as well as clinicians, discussed various aspects of the robots design, sensors, behaviors, and a robot connected app. While similarities between the workshops occurred, such as a soft textured exterior, and natural colors and sounds, certain differences between the groups were present. Such as the robot being able to call for aid were present from clinicians, or who those with depression were comfortable sharing their data collected by the robot with.