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Babies drive robots to learn skills
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15/11/2007
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James Cole Galloway, associate professor of physical therapy, and Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware have been building child sized robots to enable small children with disabilities to achieve mobility and explore the world on their own.
Much of infant development, both of the brain and behaviour, emerges from the thousands of experiences each day that arise as babies independently move and explore their world. Infants with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other disorders can have mobility limitations that disconnect them from the ongoing exploration enjoyed by their peers.
“If these infants were adults, therapists would have options of assistive technology such as power wheelchairs,” said Galloway. “Currently, children with significant mobility impairments are not offered power mobility until they are 5 to 6 years of age, or older. This delay in mobility is particularly disturbing when you consider the rapid brain development during infancy. Their actions, feelings and thinking all shape their own brain’s development. Babies literally build their own brains through their exploration and learning in the complex world.”
The first prototype, UD1, is ringed with sensors that can determine the obstacle-free roaming space, and will either allow infants to bump obstacles or will take control from the infant and drive around the obstacle itself. The next prototype, UD2, will build on the current technology to provide additional control to a parent, teacher or other supervising adult.
For more information: http://www.udel.edu/research/media/babiesrobots.html
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Author
Tom Shelley
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