A new robotic system called NAO (pronounced "Now") has been developed to help children with autism learn how to focus their attention on other people and objects around them.

At two feet tall, NAO is a humanoid robot that uses an elaborate system of cameras, sensors and computers and whose sole purpose is to effectively assist children with autism.

Engineers with various backgrounds and autism experts worked together at Vanderbilt University to develop the NAO system, which proves that "robotic systems may be powerful tools for enhancing the basic social learning skills of children with ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder]," Science Daily says.

The researchers involved in NAO's development have already reported that children with ASD have been paying more attention to the robot and are minding its directions almost as well as the same kids did with a human therapist during typical attention exercises.

The importance of such a system stems from the growing epidemic of ASD. According to Science Daily's count, more than one in 88 children is diagnosed with ASD. One in 54 boys is diagnosed with ASD.

The numbers represent a 78 percent increase over a four-year period.

"This is the first real-world test of whether intelligent adaptive systems can make an impact on autism," said Director of the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) at Vanderbilt's Kennedy Center Zachary Warren, who is also the team leader of the NAO system.

The amount of work building the system was one thing, but also ensuring it would be an appropriate teaching aid for children with autism was important, too.

"You can't just drop a robot down in front of a child and expect it to work," Warren said. "You must develop a sophisticated adaptive structure around the robot before it will work."

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