User Manual

1. Introduction to iPal

iPal is a fully functional humanoid robot that is 3.5 feet tall. It has many

motors, microphones, cameras, sensors (infrared, ultrasound and

touch) which enable iPal™ to be aware of its surroundings and to

facilitate interactions with and between humans

iPal is an open system based on the Android operating system with

extensions for motion, sensors and natural language conversation,

allowing a wealth of third party applications to be delivered on a robot.

For children and families, iPal is an affordable social robot that is a

friend, teacher, and safety monitor for children. iPal provides

educational content in an engaging manner that supports social

development and encourages interest in science and technology. iPal

cooperates with parents to provide better quality of life for children

and gives them a head start in education. iPal is not intended to be a

standalone babysitter or a replacement for parents or finding friends

their own age -- no robot can or should take the place of parents or

friends. But iPal can make the everyday lives of parents a little easier

and provide a much richer experience for children compared just to

sitting in front of a TV.

For elders iPal™ is a constant companion that supplements personal

care services and has the potential to provide security with alerts for

many medical emergencies. As an elder companion and safety

monitor. iPal can facilitate social interaction and companionship for