METHODS article
Front. Robot. AI
Sec. Human-Robot Interaction
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frobt.2025.1646523
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Agency of Educational Artifacts: Reimagining the Role of Robots in Cognitive DevelopmentView all 3 articles
Play robots to develop competences
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Polytechnic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Play is a fundamental activity through which humans and animals acquire skills and competencies. Robots are increasingly capable of engaging in playful interactions with humans, offering new opportunities for learning, development, and social connection. Unlike traditional toys, robots possess autonomy and expressive capabilities, enabling them to propose actions, respond meaningfully, and exhibit intentions and emotions. This transforms the nature of play, making it more interactive and adaptive. For individuals with cognitive or physical impairments, robots can serve as predictable and engaging companions that attract attention, foster motivation, and facilitate social interaction in group settings. In this paper, we present a comprehensive framework to support the design of play-oriented robots and activities. Drawing on more than 20 years of research and development, we provide examples of low-cost robotic systems tailored for diverse user needs, including both typically developing individuals and those with disabilities. Through selected case studies, we demonstrate the effectiveness and versatility of our approach in supporting the design and analysis of playful experiences that are inclusive, goal-oriented, and developmentally beneficial.
Keywords: Play, Game, social robot, robot design, Disability, competence, skill
Received: 13 Jun 2025; Accepted: 23 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Panelli, Guerrieri and Bonarini. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Andrea Bonarini, andrea.bonarini@polimi.it
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