Toys Cars Offer Mobility to Children with Disabilities

Children born with severe mobility impairments, such as those associated with cerebral palsy, are at increased risk for mobility-related developmental delays in cognition, language and socialization. Providing daily mobility between the ages of 1 and 5 is critical, given that significant learning, brain and behavioral development is dependent on mobility during this time.

The NSF-funded project, affectionately termed “Babies Driving Robots and Racecars,” began at the University of Delaware when Sunil Agrawal, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, approached Cole Galloway, a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy.

"Dr. Agrawal told me, ‘We have small robots, and you have small infants, do you think we can do something together?’" Galloway explained.

Galloway was hesitant at first; he could not envision babies and robots in the same room much less interacting with each other. However, after visiting the lab and seeing Agrawal’s robots in action, Galloway began to see the possibilities.