An adaptive game algorithm for an autonomous, mobile robot - A real world study with elderly users

This paper presents a field study of a physical ball game for elderly based on an autonomous, mobile robot. The game algorithm is based on Case Based Reasoning and adjusts the game challenge to the player's mobility skills by registering the spatio-temporal behaviour of the player using an on board laser scanner.We have investigated the adaptiveness of the game algorithm in an open-ended environment with older adults using different assistive tools and playing in at a rehabilitation center. The study shows that the robot operates robustly in the real world and that the game algorithm adjusts the challenge to different players, but fails when players show non-standard behaviour.