Principal Investigator Cynthia Breazeal
Project Website http://robotic.media.mit.edu/portfolio/tega/
Tega is a new robot platform for long-term interactions with children. The robot leverages smart phones to graphically display facial expressions. Smart phones are also used for computational needs, including behavioral control, sensor processing, and motor control to drive its five degrees of freedom. To withstand long-term continual use, we have designed an efficient battery-powered system that can potentially run for up to six hours before needing to be charged. We also designed for more robust and reliable actuator movements so that the robot can express consistent and expressive behaviors over long periods of time. Through its small size and furry exterior, the robot is aesthetically designed for children. We aim to field test the robot's ability to work reliably in out-of-lab environments and engage young children in educational activities.