PARO is a therapeutic robot seal developed in Japan as a companion for older people.
Created by engineer Takanori Shibata at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, PARO was designed to provide some benefits associated with animal-assisted therapy where live animals are impractical. Its sensors detect touch, light, sound and movement, allowing it to respond with sounds and motion.
PARO’s appearance is based on a young harp seal, chosen partly because many people have little prior expectation of how such an animal should behave. The robot has been used in care settings, including facilities serving people with dementia.
PARO is not an autonomous household helper like a robot vacuum. It is primarily a social and therapeutic device, and research has examined its effects on mood, interaction and stress rather than ordinary industrial productivity.