
Lego Mindstorms Robot
Lego Mindstorms NXT is a programmable robotics kit designed and created by Lego. We have built a torso only humanoid robot to be used in clinical settings for treating children with Autism. The robot can be remotely controlled using a Lego controller block. It can also receive commands via Bluetooth.
Research Objectives
How can a humanoid robot assist in treating children with Autism in clinical settings?
Can a toy-look-like humanoid robot (loosely resemble a human) help develop autistic children's capabilities in joint attention?
How can a therapist “program” the robot in preparation for clinical sessions using a skill/behavior based interactive learning interface?
What interface techniques help the therapists interact with the robot to better treat children with Autism?
How does the use of different sensors affect the efficacy of the robot in therapy?
Robot Specifications
Sensors
Existing Sensors:
Possible Sensors (could be in lego blocks, or external sensors):
Range Sensor: Infrared proximity sensor to detect object distances.
Visual Sensor: A small web cam (or stereo) that enables computer vision algorithms to identify patterns.
Audio Sensor: (single or multiple directional microphones): Allows audio signals detection from different directions. Possibly voice commands.
Touch Sensor: Detects touches from the user. Could be on the belly, back, or on the head.
Position Sensor (wii remotes): Detects locations of the operator's elbows, wrists, etc. The therapist will be holding the wii remotes.
Motion Sensor (wii remote): Detects the direction of movement from the operator.
Actuators
Existing Actuators:
Possible Actuators:
Processor
Communication
Robot Skills/Behaviors
Existing skills/behaviors
Possible skills/behaviors
Gestures: Wave, knock on table
Cognitive behaviors: Imitate
Movements: Reach out
Sounds: Make sounds/noises, speak
Emotions: Excited (arms up and waving quickly), bored (arms resting on tabletop not moving)
Cognitive behaviors: find face, learn to identify objects, identify direction of sound source
Social behaviors: Knock on table to get attention.
Desired skills/behaviors
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