A team of researchers at Gaumard Scientific, a Miami-based company, has unveiled HAL, a robot boy that can cry, bleed, talk, and even has a “pulse.”
HAL, the world’s most advanced pediatric patient simulator is capable of simulating lifelike emotions through dynamic facial expressions, movement, and speech.
The robot is designed to help educate medical students in a realistic way
Medical students are using HAL to practice treatment and better understand how young patients respond to different treatments.
John Eggers, Gaumard’s executive vice president, said, “Participants can perform a full range of emergency procedures including surgical airway, needle decompression, and chest tube thoracostomy with the highest degree of realism.”
“It’s the closest experience to real-world pediatric emergency care available today.”
Guamard engineers have tried their best to make the robot look like an actual child. HAL shakes his head from side to side, cries real tears, and even calls out for his mother when feeling distressed. The hyper-real training robot can even urinate or go into cardiac arrest.
James Archetto, Gaumard’s vice president, said, “In certain situations such as anaphylaxis, his tongue will swell, his throat will swell.”
Hal breathes through a combination mechanical-pneumatic system and a cartridge in his leg makes him exhale CO2. Hydraulic systems deliver fake blood and tears. Servo motors tug on his face to help him show emotions.
