Babies and toddlers learn at a rapid-fire pace as they begin to crawl, walk and explore the world around them. But what happens when a young child has a problem with mobility? Researchers at the University of Delaware have customized kid-sized robots that put babies on the move.
"Let's hop!" A few months ago, two-year-old Andrew Peffley would have been stuck on the sidelines. "Find a spot." Andrew was born with spina bifida. "I never wanted him to accept that he couldn't do the things he wanted to do." Instead, he's exploring the world around him like any other toddler, thanks to a pint-sized robot. "Is that a piggy?"
Physical therapists and mechanical engineers joined forces to create robots that allow babies with disabilities to move around. They're controlled by a joystick that's simple enough for a one year old to use. "They realize very quickly, this means going. That's the hook we use to start training them to directly drive to you."
Researchers say babies build their own brains through exploration. The majority of brain synapses or connections form by age three. Eighty five percent of their brain development is completed by age five. "For a baby, it's hard to overestimate how much exploration provides them." "Yay! zoom, zoom, zoom, Carlos!"
The robot has infrared sensors that drive the chair around any trouble spots. Researchers also attached a "baby-cam" to record the child's response. "Andrew's turn!" "He'll run away from me just like a toddler would run away. He chases me down if I have his favorite toy."
A little boy whose brain and body can now keep up with the world around him.
Researchers just outfitted a preschooler with a robot and are studying the impact it has on his ability to socialize with other kids in school.
