Shortly after Meagan Brazil-Sheehan’s son, Luca, was diagnosed with leukemia, they encountered Robin the Robot at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center. This AI-powered therapeutic robot, designed to look like a small girl, provides emotional support to pediatric patients, offering them joy and companionship during difficult medical treatments.
Since its launch in the U.S., Robin has become a staple in over 30 healthcare facilities across California, Massachusetts, New York, and Indiana, responding to the growing demand for emotional care amidst staff shortages.
Robin helps ease the burden on nurses and healthcare workers, allowing them to focus more on medical care. Karen Khachikyan, the CEO of Expper Technologies, noted, Nurses and medical staff are really overworked, under a lot of pressure, and unfortunately, a lot of times they don’t have the capacity to provide engagement and connection to patients. Robin helps to alleviate that part from them.
On a recent visit to HealthBridge Children’s Hospital in Orange County, California, Robin brought smiles to young patients by checking in with them, playing their favorite songs, and engaging in games like tic-tac-toe. Samantha da Silva, a speech language pathologist, shared, Patients light up when Robin comes into their room. She remembers their names and their favorite music. She brings joy to everyone.
While Robin is still learning and evolving, it already exhibits behaviors similar to emotional intelligence, responding to the feelings of the children it interacts with. The robot has been particularly effective in nursing homes as well, playing memory games with dementia patients and serving as a comforting companion. Khachikyan's vision for Robin extends beyond emotional support; plans include developing abilities to monitor vitals and assist with personal care for the elderly.
Developed by Khachikyan during his Ph.D. studies, Robin's design was influenced by his desire to create a friend-like presence — something he felt was necessary based on his experiences as a child. Over time, Robin's personality has developed through interactions with users, making it more relatable and beloved among children.
As AI continues to play an integral role in healthcare, initiatives like Robin showcase how technology can fill critical gaps in patient care while maintaining the essential human connection that is so vital in keeping spirits high in challenging medical environments.
