Justin Hart (Computer Science) and his adviser Brian
Scassellati are pursuing research into human self-awareness using a humanoid
robot, Nico. Their work stands at the crossroads of computer science and
psychology and complements the work of psychologists, neuroscientists,
sociologists, and anthropologists. They use computational models to emulate
human social behavior, and in the process, understand it in new ways. Recently,
the lab (along with MIT, Stanford, and USC) won a $10 million grant from the
National Science Foundation to create "socially assistive" robots
that can serve as companions for children with special needs. These robots will
help with everything from cognitive skills to getting the right amount of
exercise.