# 207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-07-05
- Length: 1h 00m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head

## Summary

Professor Ayanna Howard of Georgia Tech discusses her research on humanoid robots interacting with children with special needs, focusing on kinematic modeling, robot operating system (ROS), and the psychological phenomenon of human-robot trust. She explains how robots like the Nao and Darwin Mini are used to study emotional responses and behavioral nuances, while also addressing the risks of over-trusting autonomous systems like self-driving cars. The conversation covers educational robotics platforms like Lego Mindstorms and Dash & Dot, and Howard's work with EngineerGirl.org to mentor young women in engineering.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=6) Introduction and Guest Background
- [3:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=206) Research on Robots and Children with Special Needs
- [7:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=435) Kinematic Modeling and Mathematics
- [10:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=641) Robot Operating System (ROS) and Tools
- [13:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=810) Robot Platforms: Nao, Darwin, and Mini Darwin
- [18:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=1093) Reactive vs. Deliberative Behaviors
- [23:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=1411) Human-Robot Trust and Over-Reliance
- [34:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=2062) Emotional Mimicry and AI Methods
- [41:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head#t=2485) Educational Robotics and Career Advice

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Georgia Tech (company)
- Nao (product)
- Darwin (product)
- Darwin Mini (product)
- Aldebran (company)
- Soft Bank (company)
- Robot Operating System (tool)
- Lego Mindstorms (product)
- Dash and Dot (product)
- Cosmobot (product)
- Vex (product)
- Botball (product)
- FIRST (product)
- EngineerGirl.org (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Arduino (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Interview: Roboticist Ayanna Howard | Memories May Be Beautiful, And Yet | Math & Neptune](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-09-25-interview-roboticist-ayanna-howard-memories-may-be-beautiful-and-yet-math-neptun) (EE Times Current)
- [Episode 126: Why are we building humanoid robots? - Robot Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 143: Robots for children - Elmira Yadollahi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 92: Trust and acceptance of robots - Gisela Reyes-Cruz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-10-04-episode-92-trust-and-acceptance-of-robots-gisela-reyes-cruz) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Twenty-Six: Séverin Lemaignan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-18-episode-twenty-six-severin-lemaignan) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.