Robotic Onesie Assists Babies at Risk for Cerebral Palsy
From: IEEE Spectrum - 07/26/2016
By: Megan Scudellari

A motorized skateboard plus a machine-learning algorithm help infants explore
the world and form valuable brain connections

At the University of Oklahoma a team of biomedical engineers and physical
therapists have developed a motorized device to help infants at risk for
cerebral palsy develop motor and cognitive skills. After a promising pilot
study, the group began a larger trial of 56 infants this year. They use a
robot equipped with power steering, a sophisticated machine-learning
algorithm, and an endearing little cap studded with dozens of electrodes that
track brain activity.

Now in its third iteration, the Self-Initiated Prone Progression Crawler or
SIPPC (pronounced "sip-see"), is building on earlier elements: a soft pad
that rolls along on three wheels and a sensor-studded outfit into which the
infant is strapped. Fifty times per second, the 12 movement sensors would
send measurements to a computer, depicting the child’s movement in 3-D on a
nearby monitor. Additionally, cameras mounted on the SIPPC captured what each
of the infant’s limbs was doing at a given time.

Read the entire article and view a video (0:27) at:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/robotic-onesie-assists-babies-at-risk-for-cerebral-palsy

Links:
Robotic Device Benefits Infants at Risk for Cerebral Palsy
https://www.mdtmag.com/article/2016/08/robotic-device-benefits-infants-risk-cerebral-palsy

Robot Assistants for Promoting Crawling and Walking in Children at Risk of
  Cerebral Palsy
http://www-symbiotic.cs.ou.edu/projects/cerebral_palsy

Robotic device designed to help babies with disabilities make physical and
  developmental gains
http://www.uhatok.com/news/print/683-sippc

Thubi H.A. Kolobe, PT, PhD, FAPTA
http://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/Departments/RehabilitationSciences/RSFacultyandStaff/PTFaculty/ThubiKolobe.aspx

'Motorized Skateboard' Helps Physically Impaired Babies Crawl (with video
  2:00)
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/09/motorized-skateboard-helps-physically-impaired-babies-crawl

Related:
Researchers Combat Developmental Delays with Fashionable 'Super Suits'
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/05/researchers-combat-developmental-delays-fashionable-super-suits

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New Robot Helps Babies with Cerebral Palsy Learn to Crawl
From: Scientific American - October 2016 - page 20
By: Knvul Sheikh

The infants crawl sooner and farther than they would on their own

A contraption meant to promote crawling called the Self-Initiated Prone
Progression Crawler (SIPPC), consists of a high-tech onesie and a
three-legged, wheeled robot equipped with a machine-learning algorithm.
Sensors in the onesie detect a baby's kicks or shifts in weight, and the
robot responds by pushing a support platform in the same direction, giving
the baby a boost toward where he or she wants to go.

Read the entire article at:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-robot-helps-babies-with-cerebral-palsy-learn-to-crawl

Links:
Thubi Kolobe
http://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/Departments/RehabilitationSciences/RSFacultyandStaff/PTFaculty/ThubiKolobe.aspx

Human Development Research Laboratory
http://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/Departments/RehabilitationSciences/RSFacultyandStaff/PTFaculty/ThubiKolobe/HumanDevelopmentResearchLaboratory.aspx

New Robot Improves Motor Control Of Babies With Cerebral Palsy & Encourages
  Them To Learn Crawling
http://www.parentherald.com/articles/68251/20160921/new-robot-improves-motor-control-babies-cerebral-palsy-encourages-learn.htm