Robot Kebbi stands just 12.5-inches tall, but it’s a giant in the fight against autism.
Its round eyes blink and its eyebrows rise; facial expressions charm and dazzle; it raises its arms to celebrate successes on computer exercises.
Kids grin, giggle and connect. Parents melt. And autism takes a step back.
Kebbi is one of four robots deployed by MOVIA Robotics’ founder Timothy Gifford in the fight against autism spectrum disorder, a range of conditions that affect one in every 36 children in America and as many as 75 million worldwide.
While Kebbi is popular in home learning environments, NAO, the self-proclaimed “oldest and wisest” of the Movia family, is designed for use in educational and special-needs environments.
NAO stands 22.5-inches tall and has fully articulating arms and legs. In a short video clip posted on Movia’s website, NAO explains in its digital voice that it can “learn and move alongside you.”
The iPal robot stands 36-inches tall and is designed to perform in a classroom or group environment. According to Movia, it can lead groups through physical activities, storytelling or other lessons.
Misty II humbly brags, “some say I’m the smartest robot in the Movia family.” The compact space-age looking Misty II “delivers life skills, daily living, learning readiness and academic content to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs,” according to Movia.
New market opportunities
Movia Robotics has come a long way since the early days in the labs at UConn.
“We actually made our own robots when we first started out in 2008,” Gifford recalls. “The NAO robot became available in the second year of our research, so we switched over to using the NAO as we wanted to use commercial off-the-shelf robots. We started using Kebbi in 2020.”
Most of Movia’s robots are from Taiwan or China, but some have come from Europe, Gifford said. But the software that makes the robots special is unique and made in Connecticut.
The robot’s nonjudgmental persona makes individuals with special needs feel safe, secure and heard, Gifford said. This allows a peer-to-peer relationship to develop between the student and robot, enhancing development of social and emotional skills.
The academic program is grade-level and ability-specific. It has been developed by experts and tested in universities. Robots deliver consistent messaging and never get tired.
The robots don’t connect to the internet so no personal data is at risk.
The Department of Defense has selected Movia Robotics products for use in its schools around the world.
Prices range from $2,388 for Kebbi and the HomePal package to over $17,000 for Nao and the enterprise-level teacher’s aide package. Each robot includes one of three use-specific programs that track student progress.
Gifford said he expects a new arrangement that offers Movia’s products through Best Buy’s online site to expand sales. Movia will continue to handle support and training.
Down the road, Gifford said he sees potential use of the robots in eldercare and hospital environments. But that kind of expansion would require new funding.
He’s closely watching the economy and market trends in anticipation of going out to raise capital with a Series A offering, perhaps in the fourth quarter.