Pretty soon, pediatric hospitals and clinics will be equipped with humanoid robots that will be able to help the rehabilitation and recovery of children. The National Institute of Health recently granted the University of Delaware funding to further explore the potential uses of NAO: the 22-inch robot in pediatric rehabilitation.
It is no coincidence that the robot looks like a regular children's toy. NAO is specifically created to interact with children, especially those with motor disabilities.
"Our hope is that the robot will act as a magnet for very young children with disabilities, along with their typically developing peers, engaging them in dynamic group activities - controlled chaos full of fun, friends and fitness," said Cole Galloway, the mobility researcher at the University of Delaware. "Pediatric rehabilitation equipment and training currently do not meet the needs of kids with motor disabilities. Young children's overall knowledge depends on their ability to be mobile with peers - once they start moving, they begin to learn about the world in fundamentally different ways."
According to Phys.org, NAO will be able to learn about the children it interacts with. The robot will be capable of recognizing a child's mood and respond accordingly. The machine will even be smart enough to remember family members and learn about his or her preference in music, movies, and food.
The robot won't only be able to conduct the prescribed training routine step-by-step, it will also be able to know when enough is enough. The researchers also claim that NAO will redirect the focus of the child once his or her mind starts to wander.
NAO is not the only robot that aims to revolutionize the medical industry. At CES 2016 in Las Vegas last week, around vibrating social robot captured the attention of the tech world due to its adorable face and build, and its noble mission. The Daily Mail UK reported that the machine called Leka, a vibrating "social robot," wants to help children with autism to learn and be more socially adept.
