Longmont Library robot project helps autistic kids relate, b
Source: Karen Antonacci

From left, Peter Larsen, Hobbes Ehlert, Henrik Larsen and Thomas Larsen work on the robot at Tinkermill Makerspace in Longmont on Nov. 16. Kids on the autism spectrum worked on their library robot, which will eventually roam Longmont library, asking questions and finding lost books. (Cliff Grassmick / For the Times-Call)

There will be a new presence weaving its way among the Longmont Public Library bookshelves before the end of the year, if Jalali Hartman and his cadre of engineers have anything to say about it.

Hartman's company, Robauto, is working with the library to create a robot that can help children with autism spectrum disorder break barriers that many of them have with communication and social interaction.

The Innovation Team is uniquely qualified to know what kind of robot could help kids on the autism spectrum because, while it is open to anyone from seventh to 12th grades, it is mostly composed of kids on the autism spectrum.

Working on the robot teaches not only computer science, engineering and entrepreneurial skills, but it gives the kids a place where they belong, Hartman said.

"It's creating a group where they feel like they're a part of it and actually could earn a living potentially," Hartman said. "I mean, we have 12-year-old kids programming right now that are honestly better than people out of college."

Quin Weadley, 13, said he has learned the programming language Scratch and picked up a on a few others since starting with the Innovation Team.

"I'm glad it's inclusive for people to join," said Quin Weadley, who is on the autism spectrum. "I'm glad Jalali is being accepting of people with autism. Emotions like happy I'm not good with. I'm better at, like, math and science but not good with emotions. I don't feel too many emotions."

Asked what else he would like to tell people about the Innovation Team, Quin Weadley emphasized other facts about the program ― it didn't take up too much time in his week and it was free, unlike other robotics clubs that charge an entry fee.

Quin's mother, Katherine Weadley, works with the library's related project of special programming for children with ASD. She said Quin and his older brother Conor have been exhibiting more self confidence since they started with Robauto and the Innovation Team in June.

"Like see, Quin is flapping his hands there. That's something he will do sometimes," she said, indicating Quin as he walked around the Tinkermill space. "Somewhere else that might be an issue and people would judge, but it's not here."

Beyond the process, the end product seems to be helping kids too. There's something about robots that draw kids' attention, especially many children on the autism spectrum, Hartman said.

"A lot of times there's a kid and they won't speak to anyone, but they'll speak to you through the robot," Hartman said, putting his hands in front of his face like he was holding an imaginary robot. "Like this."

In testing various robots, Hartman hit upon a realization.

"People with autism don't need a robot, they need their robot that responds to them and is tailored to their needs," Hartman said.

So the Innovation Team started with the bones ― they used a robot for the base called an iRobot (similar to and made by the same company that produces the robotic Roomba vacuums). The iRobot base moves with multi-directional rubber wheels. To that, the team added a 4-foot-tall stem and attached a camera, an RFID scanner, a small microphone and speaker. The Innovation Team has come up with some rough sketches of how the finished library robot will look, with a tilted rectangular head with large eyes and a vase-like body designed to not look too human.



"library robot" on Sunday. Kids on the autism spectrum worked on the
Hobbes Ehlert, left, Jalali Hartman and Thomas Larsen wire part of their "library robot" on Sunday. Kids on the autism spectrum worked on the robot that will eventually roam the Longmont Public Library, asking questions and finding lost books. (Cliff Grassmick / For the Times-Call)

When the robot is finished, the hope is that it will be able to roam around the stacks, talking and exchanging jokes with kids and using its RFID scanner to find misplaced books around the library in the process.

The robot should also be able to interact with some of the Apple TVs in the library, like the ones in the lobby or the conference rooms. Most of the time, Hartman said, the robot would be streaming its point of view to the screen, so library patrons can get a robot eye's view.

The plan is to deploy the test version of the robot soon to the library lobby so patrons can speak with it and add more words to its artificial intelligence vocabulary. By the end of 2015, Hartman said, he plans to expand to three other schools or libraries along the Front Range, gaining new insights into autism as they go.

Right now, Hartman is fundraising and gauging interest for the new crop of seventh- to 12th-graders in the Longmont-Boulder-Denver area interested in robotics. He was able to cover the cost of $200 per kid for the six-month Innovation Team program in 2014 thanks to sponsors and donors, but isn't sure yet whether that will be the case for 2015. Applications to work with Robauto are available at www.goo.gl/pRXLtH.

Karen Antonacci: 303-684-5226, antonaccik@times-call.com or twitter.com/ktonacci

From left, Deacon Kaufman, Jason McGrath and Quinn Hartman draw sketches of how the library robot will look. (Cliff Grassmick / For the Times-Call)