CORVALLIS, Ore. – Who says technology can’t be good for kids’ health? Researchers at Oregon State University are turning that notion on its head, revealing that a custom-built robot named GoBot could be the secret to getting toddlers more physically active. The findings open up exciting new possibilities for combating childhood inactivity and its associated health risks.

The star of this study is GoBot, a custom-built robotic system that looks like it rolled straight out of a toddler’s dreamscape. Equipped with flashing lights, bubble-blowing capabilities, and sound effects, GoBot is designed to capture the attention of young children and motivate them to move. But GoBot isn’t just a high-tech toy; it’s a sophisticated tool in the fight against childhood inactivity.

Led by Dr. Naomi Fitter, the study involved eight children between two and three years-old who participated in weekly play sessions with GoBot over two months. Each session was divided into three conditions: a control period where GoBot was present but inactive, a teleoperated period where a researcher controlled GoBot’s movements and features, and a semi-autonomous period where GoBot operated independently with minimal human input.

When GoBot was active, whether teleoperated or semi-autonomous, children consistently moved more compared to when the robot was inactive. This increased movement wasn’t just a fleeting novelty effect; it persisted throughout the entire two-month study period, challenging the researchers’ initial expectations that interest would wane over time.

Perhaps most intriguingly, there was no significant difference 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, making them practical tools for busy parents, daycare centers, or healthcare settings.

“It was interesting to us that the simple autonomous routine worked as well as directly teleoperated control when it came to engaging children. That means a relatively low-cost robot playmate – one that offers more intelligence and independence compared to current phone-operated robotic toys – might be feasible in the near future,” Fitters says in a statement.

To measure the children’s activity levels, the researchers employed a mix of high-tech gadgetry 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 their interactions with GoBot, allowing researchers to analyze the children’s proximity to the robot and overall movement patterns.

The study’s findings, published in the Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine, have exciting implications for early childhood development and healthcare. As one parent participant noted, a semi-autonomous robot like GoBot could potentially “keep children active even when [a parent] might not be able to entertain [their child].” This could be a game-changer for busy families or in settings where adult supervision is limited.

Moreover, the consistent engagement over the two-month period suggests that robots like GoBot could have lasting impacts on children’s activity levels. Unlike many toys or gadgets that quickly lose their appeal, GoBot seemed to maintain its ability to motivate movement, hinting at its potential for long-term interventions.

However, the researchers are quick to point out that GoBot isn’t meant to replace human interaction or traditional play. Instead, it’s envisioned as a supplementary tool, particularly useful in situations where adult-led physical activity might be challenging.

“An important point is that we’re not aiming to replace caregivers, but for parents, there can be periods of development during which it is hard to know how best to engage with your toddler,” says Fitter. “The work in our paper could lead to new robotic toys that families could play with together to help fill those gaps.”

Early physical activity is crucial for cognitive, social, and motor development, as well as establishing healthy habits that can last a lifetime. By making movement fun and engaging, robots like GoBot could play a role in setting children on a path to healthier futures.