Robots help children in hospital take part in school and other activities

New devices could help prevent children from becoming lonely when isolated from other people

On a table in the middle of a classroom sits a robot with lights flashing in its head. From its abdomen comes what sounds uncannily like the voice of a teenager.

‘Please Miss, could you repeat the question?’ says the voice.

The voice is indeed that of a teenager, a sick teenager in hospital, and they can operate the robot through a tablet computer. When they want to ask a question they can make the robot light up to signal to the teacher.

Each child is given a unique PIN number so only they can operate the robot. Information is exchanged during real-time and not recorded, it is also encrypted to protect the child.

The robot, known as AV1,