Vanderbilt researchers create robot to help kids with autism

From News Channel 5 in Nashville:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Children with autism often experience the world differently from the way most others do. Vanderbilt University researchers may be able to use a robot to help autistic children express their feelings.

In the robotic lab at Vanderbilt University groundbreaking research sometimes looked nothing like research.

Dr. Nilanjan Sarkar took nerf hoops in a whole new direction.

"Research shows that children with autism like to play with robots, we want to use robotic technology to give some skill to the children," said Sarkar.

The doctor created the world's first sensitive robot. Lab partner, Carla Conn hooked herself up to computer monitors that measure heart rate, body temperature and muscle twitching.

"If it detects that child is getting frustrated then it might decide to slow down and make it a bit easy for the child to play and get confidence back," said Sarkar.

Carla enjoyed the game and the computer detected that and gradually increased the difficulty to improve the skill. Autistic children that tried the robot wanted to play again.

"We were not sure whether it would work initially, but when kids with autism worked with robot and enjoyed think the robot really understands them. That was gratifying," said Sarkar.

The lab researchers spent 2 and a half years creating it, but there was more work to do.

The doctor wants to patent the technology and eventually mass produce the robot, potentially something for all children that you can buy at local Wal-Mart stores.