A comforting face: Asnida (left) and project member and senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Faiz Md Shakhih (centre) monitoring the movements of the AI-powered robot teddy on her laptop as student and project member Qistina Balqis Zaidi (right) gives a demo.
JOHOR BARU: This cuddly teddy bear is no ordinary stuffed toy – it is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to give children with autism a better quality of life.
The robot, known as “TeddyTherapy”, was designed by a team of researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to help children with autism improve their gross motor skills through guided movement exercises.
Project leader Assoc Prof Dr Asnida Abdul Wahab said the robot, equipped with AI, smart cameras and a set of custom-built applications, can automatically record and assess a child’s movements.
She said this enables occupational therapists and parents to monitor progress more effectively.
“We wanted to create something tangible and friendly for the children.
“The robot teddy guides autistic children through various exercises such as mirror movements and coordination, making the process more engaging, standardised and accessible,” she said.
The innovation earned a gold medal at the 26th International Innovation and Technology Exhibition last year, enhancing its role as a promising tool in rehabilitation technology.
Asnida said the idea began several years ago before Covid-19 after researchers observed therapy sessions at the Penawar Special Learning Centre, which caters to children with autism.
“Through feedback from occupational therapists, we learned that children with gross motor challenges struggle with walking, balancing or using larger muscle groups, and often participate less in physical therapy sessions.
“Occupational therapists usually work one-on-one and demonstrate every movement physically.
“By the end of the day, the therapists are exhausted, and the autistic child can sense that fatigue. This affects their response and participation in the rehabilitation process,” she said.
TeddyTherapy mimics the actions of a therapist using mirror-based therapy, encouraging children to copy the robot’s movements such as lifting their arms, balancing or walking in place.
The built-in AI technology compares each movement against set modules and generates reports that can be shared between centres or with parents, said Asnida, who also heads UTM’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences.
The technology can reduce families’ financial and time burden, as it allows for some therapy sessions to be carried out at home under parental supervision, she added.
To ensure the design suits children’s needs, her team paid attention to sensory sensitivity and safety features.
The robot’s “teddy suit” comes in bright, interchangeable colours, and the stand is designed with a stable base to prevent injuries.
“Parents have even suggested a miniature plush version of the robot for children to use as a comfort toy and this is an idea we are considering for future development.
“Presently, we are working on hardware upgrades and voice-command capabilities, supported by a recent RM30,000 grant from UTM,” she said.
She added that they are also conducting clinical studies to compare therapy outcomes between sessions using the robot and traditional methods.
The team hopes to eventually commercialise TeddyTherapy as an affordable, home-friendly device compatible with regular laptops or smartphones.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to help children with autism become more independent and reduce the burden of parents.
“Early intervention can make all the difference, and if a teddy bear can help them move and grow, then that is a big step forward,” she said.
