GoBots (Photo courtesy of OSU College of Engineering)
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Who said technology can’t be good for a child’s health? Researchers at Oregon State University are turning that notion on its head, with a custom-built robot named GoBot the secret to getting young children more physically active. revealed that it is possible. This discovery opens up exciting new possibilities for combating childhood physical inactivity and its associated health risks.
The star of this research is GoBot, a custom-built robotic system that looks straight out of a toddler’s dream world. With flashing lights, a bubble blower, and sound effects, GoBot is designed to grab your toddler’s attention and encourage them to move. But GoBot is more than just a high-tech toy. It is a sophisticated tool to combat childhood inactivity.
The study, led by Dr. Naomi Fitter, involved eight children between the ages of two and three who participated in weekly play sessions with GoBot over a two-month period. Each session consists of a control period in which the GoBot is present but inactive, a remote control period in which the researcher controls the GoBot’s movements and functions, and a semi-autonomous period in which the GoBot operates independently with minimal human input. was divided into three conditions.
Children consistently moved more when the GoBot was active, whether remotely controlled or semi-autonomous, than when the robot was inactive. This increase in movement was not just a temporary novelty effect. It persisted throughout the two-month study period, challenging researchers’ initial expectations that interest would wane over time.
Perhaps most interestingly, there were no significant differences in children’s activity levels between the teleoperated and semi-autonomous conditions. This finding suggests that future iterations of activity-promoting robots could operate with minimal human supervision and could be a practical tool for busy parents, daycare centers, and medical settings. Masu.
“What was interesting to us was that simple autonomous routines worked as well as direct remote control in capturing children’s interests. “This means that robots that offer greater intelligence and independence than current telephone-controlled robot toys may soon become a reality,” Fitters said in a statement.
Gobot and child in the playroom. (Credit: OSU College of Engineering)
To measure children’s activity levels, researchers used a combination of high-tech equipment and good old-fashioned observation. The young participants wore special sensors on their ankles, wrists, and hips that tracked their movements. Meanwhile, overhead cameras captured the children’s interactions with the GoBots, allowing researchers to analyze their approach to the robots and their overall movement patterns.
The findings, published in the Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine, have interesting implications for early childhood development and health care. As one parent participant noted, semi-autonomous robots like GoBot have the potential to “enjoy kids when[parents]can’t entertain[children].” I am. This can be a game-changer for busy families and environments with limited adult supervision.
Furthermore, sustained engagement over two months suggests that robots like GoBot can have a lasting impact on children’s activity levels. Unlike many toys and gadgets that quickly lose their appeal, Gobot appears to retain its ability to motivate movement, suggesting the possibility of long-term intervention.
However, researchers are quick to point out that GoBot is not intended to replace human interaction or traditional play. Instead, it is envisioned as a particularly useful supplementary tool in situations where adult-led physical activity is difficult.
“Importantly, we are not aiming to replace caregivers, but there are times in the development when it can be difficult for parents to decide how best to interact with their young children. There may be,” Fitter says. “The research in our paper could help fill those gaps and lead to new robotic toys that families can play with.”
Early physical activity is important not only for cognitive, social, and motor development, but also for establishing healthy habits that last a lifetime. By making movement fun and engaging, robots like GoBot can play a role in putting children on the path to a healthier future.
Paper summary
methodology
The study involved eight children (five boys and three girls) between the ages of 2 and 3 who participated in weekly play sessions with the GoBot over a two-month period. Each session included three conditions: a period of robot inactivity, a teleoperation period, and a semi-autonomous period. The children’s movements were tracked using multiple sensors and cameras. Parents completed a questionnaire to assess their perceptions and attitudes toward the robot.
Main results
The study found that children moved more when the GoBot was active (in both teleoperated and semi-autonomous modes) compared to when it was inactive. This increase in activity persisted throughout the 2-month study period. There were no significant differences in children’s activity levels between the teleoperated and semi-autonomous conditions. Children also tended to move closer to the robot when it was moving. Parent surveys indicate positive perceptions of robots’ ability to engage children and promote well-being, and these perceptions are improving over time.
Research limitations
This study had a small sample size, with only eight participants, and interaction time during each session was relatively short. The researchers also faced unique challenges when working with young children, such as mood swings and changing individual interests. These factors may limit the generalizability of the results. Although the 2-month period provided insight into long-term effects, longer studies may yield additional valuable data.
Discussion and key points
This study suggests that robots like GoBot can be an effective tool for promoting physical activity in young children and could be useful in homes, daycare centers, and medical settings. The similarity of results in teleoperated and semi-autonomous modes indicates that such robots are operational with minimal human supervision. Continued engagement over 2 months questions the expected novel effects and suggests the possibility of long-term intervention. However, researchers stress that these robots are meant to complement, not replace, human interaction and traditional play.
Funding and disclosure
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under award CMMI-2024950 and in part by the Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood Education. This study involved human subjects and was approved by the Oregon State University Institutional Review Board.
