Parents of special needs kids know that finding creative ways for their children get around is challenging. Most parents usually find that they are limited to regular or motorized wheelchairs.
Researchers at the University of Delaware are providing safe mobility to children with special needs who are unable to fully explore the world on their own through the development of kid-sized robots that infants can drive using joysticks.
The work is important because much of infant development, both of the brain and behavior, emerges from the thousands of experiences each day that arise as babies independently move and explore their world.
The robot, UD1, is designed with smart technology to address safety issues so infants can be a part of the real world environment, and in this way uses technology to meet human need.
While it looks like something that my dad could of made in the garage, I am very excited that this robot could be responsible for children seeing the world the same way that other kids do. PHOTOCREDIT:
Kathy Atkinson/University of Delaware
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