A social robot ‘buddy’ for those with psychosocial disabilities

Happybots in the Netherlands developed Felix, an AI 'buddy' for psychosocial disabilities. By 2024, Felix supported 270 users across 55 organizations to improve mental well-being.

Happybots B.V., a social start-up in Eindhoven, Netherlands, launched Felix, a social robot ‘buddy’ for people with psychosocial disabilities. Felix understands and shares feelings, helping users express themselves better, relax, and gain confidence. Available only to social service providers, Felix supported 270 users across 55 organizations by mid-2024.

Problems Targeted

People with intellectual disabilities, autism, trauma, and other psychosocial issues often have difficulty expressing their emotions and may feel lonely and uncertain about their feelings.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Happybots’ Felix is a social robot designed to help users communicate feelings non-verbally and intuitively. Users can change its colour and expression by rotating it, and they can push its head to update an online ‘emotions calendar’ designed to help mentors monitor their clients’ feelings, analyse patterns, and offer better support. The robot’s fun and engaging design encourages regular use, which helps users to become more relaxed, self-confident, and better at expressing their emotions. Going forward, Happybots aims to develop Felix further by extending its functionality so that it meets the requirements of other (new) users, such as in psychiatry and elderly health care. Felix is sold only to health-care or educational organizations, ensuring professional use. As of 2024, Felix costs €395 (excl. VAT) with an annual fee of €95 (excl. VAT). It can also be hired for defined periods. Research by Fontys University of Applied Science has confirmed Felix’s impact.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Happybots is a social start-up with a ‘happiness goal’ rather than a profit goal. It has seen steady growth, with significant sales and positive user feedback. Happybot´s main strategy is to increase Felix’s presence specifically in the healthcare sector. It also plans to add sounds (not language) and supporting bi-directional communication. Felix’s model of being a ‘co-bot’, with its unique features of understanding and sharing emotions or acting as an empathetic colleague, can be replicated in various contexts. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Pictures

The social robot Felix helps people with psychosocial disabilities to express their emotions.

The social robot Felix helps people with psychosocial disabilities to express their emotions.

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