Can Hugging a Soft Robotic Cushion Help When You Feel Worried?

Abstract

Have you ever felt worried or scared about something? That feeling is called anxiety, and it is normal to feel this from time to time. Unfortunately, people can sometimes feel so anxious that it makes them feel sick and stops them from doing things that they enjoy. When this happens, taking medicine or talking to a therapist can help, but it would be helpful to have something to use at home that does not involve medicine. So, we made a robotic cushion to help people when they feel anxious. The cushion is soft and comforting like a pillow or teddy bear, but it also does something special when you hug it to help you feel better: it breathes! In this article, we will explain how we made the cushion and how we tested its ability to help people with anxiety.