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posted by janrinok on Friday August 14 2015, @04:52PM   Printer-friendly
from the the-robot-uprising-will-be-cute-and-fluffy dept.

This is not a stuffed animal. It's not a toy. In fact, it's what researchers hope will prove to be a useful tool in helping victims of abuse and post traumatic stress disorder find relief.

Known as Therabot, this adorable robotic beagle is currently being developed at Mississippi State University's Social, Therapeutic, & Robotic Systems (STaRS) Lab, under the guidance of director Dr. Cindy Bethel. Its ultimate goal? To bridge the gap between two types of effective therapy: using real animals and their plush counterparts for emotional assistance.

Still experimental, but with a number of interesting ideas under considering. Also, take a look at the other shapes that the researches considered for Therabot before deciding on the beagle.


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  • (Score: 2) by mendax on Friday August 14 2015, @10:42PM

    by mendax (2840) on Friday August 14 2015, @10:42PM (#223041)

    As a PTSD sufferer, I am pretty certain that I would not do well with a robotic pet, no matter how cute, unless it is sentient like that teddy bear in the film "AI", and even then I would have to be 100% convinced that it is sentient, that it has a soul and there is a heaven for such man-made creatures. As for myself, I am enslaved by my evil black cat, and her company helps me deal with my PTSD issues. Why have regular nightmares like I have when I can live with a furry one? But despite her troublesome nature, I adore this cat and I will be heartbroken when she finally passes.

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