At the Center for Humanoid Robots and
Bio-sensing (HuRoBs) in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), our research ambition
is to contribute to a group of individuals that are inflicted with autism using the
commercially available humanoid robot NAO by Aldebaran Robotics.
Why humanoids
and why NAO? Feel free to browse through our team's publications for answers.
Our multi-disciplinary team comprises
of engineering researchers, therapists and also experienced clinicians that
work together for the same purpose. We believe that engineering and medical
knowledge, coupled with the inspiration to help people with special needs;
breakthroughs can be made and achieved. We also forge collaboration with The
National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) which is currently the biggest organization
that caters for the education and care for children with autism in Malaysia in
order to engage their students and facilities in this research.
How do robots play their part in
helping children with autism? In our study it is important to note that the
robot’s function is not to replace therapist but more towards acting as the
object or platform to attract, engage and withheld the children’s attention
during therapy. Children with autism have been known to
respond more to inanimate objects like computers and robots than they do to normal
people. Through our pilot study in 2012, we also had proven that the presence
of robots had no adverse effects on children with autism.
IEEE Gold Peer Reviewed Articles in GOLDRush quarterly newsletter, pp. 15, June 2012 |
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