Days after Meagan Brazil-Sheehan’s 6-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia, they were walking down the halls of UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center when they ran into Robin the Robot.
“Luca, how are you?” it asked in a high-pitched voice programmed to sound like a child. “It’s been awhile.”
Brazil-Sheehan noted how special it was that Robin remembered her son, bringing a smile to his face during such a challenging time.
Robin is a therapeutic robot powered by artificial intelligence, designed to provide emotional support in children's hospitals and nursing homes. With its friendly appearance and interactive capabilities, Robin has become a key element in enhancing patient engagement while addressing staffing shortages. Since launching in the U.S. five years ago, it has made its rounds in over 30 healthcare facilities across various states.
“Nurses and medical staff are under a lot of pressure, and unfortunately, they often don’t have capacity to provide the engagement patients need,” explained Karen Khachikyan, CEO of Expper Technologies, the company behind Robin. “This robot alleviates that burden.”
On a recent day, the robot entertained a teenage car accident victim by playing his favorite song while connecting with young patients by recalling their names and interests.
Robin also mirrors the emotions of the patients it interacts with, laughing when they are happy or showing empathy during difficult conversations.
In nursing homes, Robin engages individuals with dementia through games and companionship, acting like a grandchild to elderly residents. It has also been used to calm people during panic attacks by playing comforting music or showing videos of their favorite animals.
With the U.S. projected to face a significant shortage of physicians in the coming years, Robin's developers envision enhancing the robot's capabilities to include monitoring vitals and assisting with daily care.
Robin was initially tested in various fields before finding its niche in pediatric care, where its personality evolved based on feedback from children and caregivers alike. Ultimately, Robin aims to fill essential gaps in healthcare, offering joy and companionship as a crucial part of patient care.
