Typically robots are designed with a physical purpose, including manufacturing cars, performing delicate surgeries or aiding military officials perform daunting tasks behind enemy lines. However, recent innovations in robotics have led researchers to develop a sensitive side of humanoids in order to help children born with autism spectrum disorders, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Enter: The Bandit, developed by researchers and engineers at the University of Southern California.
Since many children with autism spectrum disorders have trouble reading and interpreting human expressions, machines seem to be a viable solution since they don't have any of these traits. Bandit is a simple, metallic-colored robot the size of a small child and has the hopes of winning the affection of children with mental or social disabilities, the news source reported.
Bandit has a moveable mouth and eyebrows with cameras that allow it to watch its playmates. Proximity sensors installed on its body gives it the ability to monitor how near children are and can back away if they get too close. The machine also has motor-powered arms which can mimic or lead children in a game of Simon Says. The humanoid can also blow bubbles or make sounds, depending on his current expressive mood, the Times noted.
Currently, only a few children have had the ability to play with Bandit, although the machine has shown positive results in helping them take turns and initiate playing with others. The problem isn't the technology. It just seems difficult to find parents who are willing to let their children experiment with a robotic machine.
Maja Mataric, the co-director of the Robotics Research Lab at USC, believes that Bandit could be a reality within five years. However, it is difficult to find the resources to conduct large-scale testing to see how long the benefits may last of if the social skills learned from the robot can be translated into real-life traits.
"Rigorous studies have to be conducted," Zachary Warren, the director of the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Vanderbilt Universityin Nashville, told the LA Times. "That's how technology proves its worth."
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1 out of every 110 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. By using developments in robotics, these children may be able to overcome some of their social handicaps that limit them from interacting with other individuals.
