Babies Driving Robots at University
From: NewsWise - 11/07/2007

Babies driving robots. It sounds like the theme of a cartoon series but it is
actually the focus of important and innovative research being conducted at
the University of Delaware that could have significant repercussions for the
cognitive development of infants with special needs. 

Two UD researchers - James C. (Cole) Galloway, associate professor of
physical therapy, and Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering -
have outfitted kid-size robots to provide mobility to children who are unable
to fully explore the world on their own. 

Submitted by Jerry Weisman

Read the entire article at:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/535180/

Links:
James C. (Cole) Galloway
http://www.udel.edu/PT/galloway/
http://www.udel.edu/PT/faculty/galloway.html

Images:
http://www.udel.edu/research/media/babiesrobotsgallery.html

Robots That Can Be Driven by Babies with Mobility Impairments
http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_account/robots_that_can_be_driven_by_babies_with_mobility_impairments

Groundbreaking work on the development of motor skills in infants is being
   expanded to include at-risk children 
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=162

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Child Assistive Robot
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider Special Edition - 11/14/2007

The use of robots to help infants with special needs learn cognitive
movements is the focus of research at the University of Delaware. Two
university researchers - James Galloway, associate professor of physical
therapy, and Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering - have
outfitted kid-size robots to provide mobility to children unable to explore
the world on their own.  

Designated UD1, the tiny robot has sensors that can determine the obstacle-
free roaming space, and will either allow infants to bump obstacles or will
take control from the infant and drive around the obstacle itself. Scientists
view the work as important because 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. Infants with Down
Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other disorders can have mobility
limitations that disconnect them from the ongoing exploration that their
peers enjoy.  

The project's goal is to place multiple mobile robots with special needs
infants in communities throughout Delaware, and to gather data to analyze how
the robots are used and what the children learn, so the researchers can
continue to make modifications.  

Read more at:
Zoom! Babies learn to ride robots at University of Delaware
http://www.udel.edu/research/media/babiesrobots.html