Babies driving robots at University of Delaware

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. The work is important because much of 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. This is the concept of "embodied development," Galloway said. 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. "If these infants were adults, therapists would have options of assistive technology such as power wheelchairs," Galloway said.