For their senior project, Team 20 will create a robotic companion that will promote the well-being of patients within the healthcare system. PLUSH, or Pal that Loves Unconditionally and Softly Hugs, is a mechanical stuffed animal designed to provide support, comfort, and companionship to patients in a hospital setting. As a robotic companion, PLUSH will relieve patient stress by mimicking affectionate gestures such as hugging, monitoring patient behavior, and contacting hospital staff when needed using a built-in call button.
Using these functionalities, PLUSH will aid in alleviating patients of negative emotions to promote better recovery outcomes and a more stable mental state. Given the pandemic’s effect on hospital admittance rates, PLUSH will also reduce the rate of call lights by fighting patient loneliness, increasing the amount of attention and reaffirmation provided to patients. As a tool for social interactions, PLUSH will reduce the workload of hospital staff, allowing hospitals to reallocate their resources to other areas for increased efficiency. As a long-term solution, PLUSH will create a trustful and reliable environment as it will always be there to provide emotional reassurance to distressed patients such as children and the elderly.