Mirrly is a new humanoid robot made at SIRRL (Social and Intelligent Robotics Research Lab) to facilitate human-robot social interactions, focusing on applications in therapy and education for children. Inspired by the need for engaging and effective interactions, Mirrly’s design incorporates a friendly appearance, articulated expressive face, and multimodal interaction capabilities. A key goal of designing Mirrly was keeping costs low while still retaining affective and expressive qualities of the robot.
One of Mirrly's potential applications is in supporting children with amblyopia, commonly referred to as lazy eye. This condition, where one eye doesn't develop proper vision, can lead to permanent vision loss if untreated. Treatment often involves patching the stronger eye for several hours a day, which can be difficult for young children to stick to. Mirrly addresses this challenge by interacting with children during their clinical visits, making the treatment process more engaging and easier to follow.
In addition to its clinical role, Mirrly can also be accessed through an online platform at home, offering ongoing support and motivation for children and their families as they continue their treatment. By creating a shared experience, where children can even place a patch on Mirrly’s eye, the robot fosters a sense of connection that helps encourage adherence to the treatment regimen.
The team behind building Mirrly includes Ali Yamini (MASc ‘22) and undergraduate researchers Ana Djurkovic, Vanessa Italia Anne Hughes, Cory Smith, and Xiaoliang Zhou under the supervision of Dr. Brandon J. DeHart and Prof. Kerstin Dautenhahn.
Mirrly's has garnered attention from several news outlets, recognizing its potential to improve treatment adherence for children with amblyopia. Coverage includes:
- Design Engineering
- Education News Canada
- Optometry Today
- University of Waterloo RoboHub
- Eye On Optics
- University of Waterloo News
- Waterloo Eye Institute
- Mirage News
- EyeSmart
The project has received support from the New Frontiers in Research Fund, allowing researchers to bring Mirrly into clinics and conduct a two-year study. The study will focus on how well the robot improves treatment adherence and the psychological well-being of children and their families as they interact with the robot throughout their treatment process.