Bear Bot

What would it be like to have your stuffed animal talk to you? Kids at Boston Children's Hospital are finding out with Huggable: the robotic teddy bear. He was designed to help kids feel less scared during doctor's visits.

Researchers from the hospital, the MIT Media Lab, and Northeastern University worked together to create Huggable. First, they drew Huggable as a cartoon to see how the robot should look and move. Then, they developed a smartphone app to control Huggable. Using a smartphone was a great design choice, because the device is small and can fit right inside the teddy bear! 

Click the image below to learn more about Huggable and watch the robot meet a new friend.

What kind of robot would YOU create to help people? Submit your designs in the Design section.