Helserobot

Seven-year-old Jericho was diagnosed in 2003 with a particularly brutal form of leukemia. During the time he was undergoing chemotherapy, his doctor estimated that he took about 4,000 pills. Jericho noticed that for many children in the hospital just seeing their medications being delivered was very stressful. So, when he was given the opportunity to make a wish, he decided his wish was to help create a kid-friendly robot to deliver medicine to hospitalized children that hopefully would elicit a smile instead of fear. Although an unusual wish, the Make-A-Wish staff was determined to find someone who could help make Jericho's wish come

true. In reality, several organizations stepped up to this challenge. Aethon, located in Pittsburgh,PA, after hearing about Jericho’s unselfish wish, donated a TUG robot, one of the company’s autonomous mobile robots that are used in practical business applications. Local design firm, Gensler, worked with Jericho to develop a new look for the robot that would appeal to kids. UCSF Children’s Hospital agreed to put Jericho’s customized robot at work in their children’s wing. Even film trailer voice-over actor Don LaFontaine participated by recording the voice of the robot. After months of working with Jericho on design ideas and countless prototypes, the “JR Railroad” was unveiled on May 31 at UCSF Children’s Hospital. “JR” is now fulfilling Jericho’s wish by bringing a bit of joy along with medicine to hospitalized children.