As social robotics technology improves and progresses, these robots’ interactions with people — and perhaps more importantly, humans’ willingness to interact with them — has also advanced.

The combination of social robotics and behavioral therapy is helping people with a wide range of social and psychological disorders, from dementia to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Robotic therapists have also been used in specific applications with a great deal of success, as patients perceive robots to be less judgmental than their human counterparts.