Researchers at the University of Bristol have created a robotic cushion which resembles a living person's heartbeat to help with stress, loneliness and anxiety.
Students that were interviewed by BBC Radio Bristol commented that "If I focus on this, I can feel my nerves just calm down a little bit" and that the cushion "has that feeling of being connected and hugging someone".
This work stems from recent research titled 'A calming hug: Design and validation of a tactile aid to ease anxiety'.