Green Means Go(Bot): Using an Assistive Robot to Encourage Independent Walking Practice by a Child with Motor Disabilities

Abstract

For children with motor disabilities, a wide range of assistive technologies (such as exoskeletons, treadmill trainers, and body-weight support harnesses) exist to support learning to walk. However, after the onset of independent walking, few technologies are geared toward helping children with motor disabilities to practice walking and improve walking control. In this paper, we assess the ability of GoBot, a custom assistive robot with multiple game modes, to encourage one child with a motor disability to improve their amount, speed, and control of independent walking. We conducted a 12-session single-subject study and found that the child walked more and faster while engaging in lightly competitive races against a directly teleoperated GoBot, compared to during experiences in a standard of care condition. As a second and more exploratory element of our work, we equipped GoBot to autonomously play the common children's game red light, green light (RLGL) with the user as an entertaining way to motivate balance practice. Anecdotally, this RLGL activity led to some of the highest levels of child engagement. The preliminary findings of our single-subject study can benefit researchers working with assistive robots and physical therapists working with children with independent walking practice goals.