NAO Robots

Description
The French company Robotics Aldebaran Robotics released their next generation NAO mini-humanoid robot in 2011. The compact ‘bot stands 1′ 10″ high, and “sees” using high-resolution cameras. It can understand both visual and audio input, and communicates in eight different languages.

NAO can also walk and learn to navigate different surfaces and handle various objects via its built-in algorithms. The new model has a 1.6 GHz Intel processor (located in its head) and a secondary CPU in its torso. It has four microphones to track sounds and runs speech recognition software as well. Its two 30fps HD cameras will scan its environment for obstacles and also, rather importantly for it's purpose, recognize faces and shapes.

The Science Bit
Children with autism are often attracted to technology because of its predictability and reduced external stimuli to process. Stanton et al. (2008) revealed a 30% increase in the number of social interactions as well as better verbal communication in some children with autism when a robot is in the same room. Improvement is not only noticeable in interactions with the robot, but also in subsequent interactions with parents and therapists. Based on these and similar research results in the field of autism and technology, Aldebaran Robotics promote robotic educational solutions to revolutionize the way society approaches autism care.

The NAO robot can't be bought commercially yet, but it is already in more than twenty institutions educating children with autism worldwide. The ASK NAO initiative is calling for ASD experts, parents, developers and researchers to register interest via their website.

Here's an extract from their website outlining the advantages of becoming involved:
 * Criticize, optimize, and suggest improvements. Even propose new ideas for behaviors...
 * Write specifications of behavioral tasks for NAO and let our community of developers make them a reality !
 * Be aware of the changes in the world related to autism, robotics and special education.
 * Meet people who share your dreams and become stronger together.