Explaining complex medical information to kids, consoling them, and caring for them in their most desperate hours is a challenging task for any parent or caregiver. Thus, there is a great need to outsource these responsibilities to a robot:
The Robotics & Multibody Research Group … is working on Anty, an intelligent huggy robot that will entertain long-term hospitalised children….
Anty uses sensors for vision, audio and touch to interact with the children. By means of artificial intelligence, Anty is capable of understanding and expressing emotions.
A screen will be added on the belly of the toy to transmit explanations about a forthcoming operation or to display games for the child to play.
Anty will be able to look in the direction of a sound. Its artificial intelligence will determinate when Anty has been caressed, hit or hugged and the robot will react accordingly.
More from Vrije University, Brussels
Via WMMNA…