Paco is one of Japan’s many “Mental Commitment Robots.” Unlike industrial robots, Mental Commitment Robots are developed to interact with human beings and to make them feel emotional attachment to the robots. Rather than using objective measures, these robots trigger more subjective evaluations, such as “cuteness” and comfort. Mental Commitment Robots are designed to provide 3 types of effects: psychological (e.g., relaxation and motivation), physiological (e.g., improvement in vital signs) and social (e.g., instigating communication amongst patients and caregivers).

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