Robotic Technologies for the Support of People with Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 16% of the global population lives with some form of disability—be it physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychosocial. Individuals with disabilities face numerous challenges related to mobility, communication, access to education, and other essential aspects of daily life. In this context, robotic technologies have emerged as innovative solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, particularly through physical and social assistance. This study presents a systematic review of the scientific literature on robotic technologies developed to support individuals with disabilities. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in major scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore. An initial pool of 6290 articles was identified, from which 89 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The results were categorized into five main themes: (a) publication trends and geographical distribution of research, (b) types of robotic technologies and their specific applications, (c) research focus and methodological characteristics, (d) participant demographics and clinical contexts, and (e) key contributions of the included studies. In the discussion, we assess the current impact of robotic technologies on the lives of people with disabilities and highlight areas for future research. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of the state of the art in assistive robotics and identifies key directions for technological and scientific advancement in the field.