Unlocking Joy: Honda’s Haru Robot Heals Kids’ Hearts with Cheerful Hospital Visits
Honda’s AI-Powered Robot Brings Joy to Hospitalized Children with Cancer
What’s worse than being stuck in six feet of snow on Thanksgiving weekend? Being stuck in a hospital, especially if you’re a kid fighting cancer. To make those long-term hospital stays less lonely, Honda has introduced an AI-powered robot to help with the well-being and rehabilitation of children with cancer.
Honda’s Research Institute Japan: The Birthplace of Haru
The Honda Research Institute Japan (HRI-JP) is a subsidiary of Honda’s R&D department, focused on the research of cutting-edge technologies. One of the results of this research is Haru, an AI-powered social robot in partnership with the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital (HUVR) in Seville, Spain.
A Robot That Cares: Haru’s Impact on Children’s Lives
Since 2021, HUVR has been using Haru in its pediatric oncology ward. The goal is to enhance the clinical and emotional care of the children, and so far, the project seems to be working. According to Honda’s press release, the social experiment has confirmed a certain level of positive effect on children with cancer.
How Haru Works Its Magic
Haru measures just 12 inches in height, making it portable and non-intimidating for the kids. Using a built-in camera and microphones, Haru captures biometric information, such as facial expressions and voice tone, and analyzes it to understand the child’s emotional state. It can also be connected to a child via a linked wristwatch-type wearable for more detailed analysis.
Social Butterfly in the Making
Haru has no human attributes and was designed to communicate in a neutral way, allowing it to navigate group interactions as easily as individual ones. Haru is meant to be a social butterfly, spreading joy and empathy to those it interacts with.
A Legacy of Happiness-Inducing Projects
This isn’t the first time Honda has created a project to bring happiness to children. Last year, Honda Performance Development (rebranded as Honda Racing Corporation) unveiled Shogo, an electric ride-on vehicle for hospital patients aged four to nine. While Haru isn’t about speeding along the pediatric ward, as long as the kids are happy and comfortable during their hospital stay, that’s all that matters.
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Photo Credit: Honda
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