Project Robotic Musician for Rehabilitation Program DUIRI - Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship Term Fall 2025 Status Accepted Research Area Global Health Description The project will investigate generative AI technology to create personalized, emotionally-tailored music and ensure safe and supportive auditory environments. In USA, about 3 million people suffer from injuries per year (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma) and rehabilitation plays important roles in recovery. This project uses robotic musicians to improve the experience of rehabilitation. Robotic musicians facilitate rehabilitation in multiple ways: (1) Motor Rehabilitation: Rhythmic cueing from robotic musicians can help patients with motor disorders (like Parkinson disease or stroke) improve their gait and coordination. Patients can move in time with the beat, which helps retrain motor pathways in the brain. Robotic instruments can adapt tempo and complexity in real time based on the patients' progress. (2) Cognitive and Neurological Benefits: Music activates multiple brain regions. Robotic musicians can deliver structured musical exercises that stimulate memory, attention, and executive function. For patients with traumatic brain injury or dementia, interactive music sessions can enhance neuroplasticity and cognitive engagement. (3) Consistency and Personalization: Robots can provide consistent, repeatable sessions without fatigue. They can be programmed to respond to patient feedback, adjusting difficulty or style to match the users' needs and preferences. (4) Emotional and Social Engagement: Music is emotionally powerful. Robotic musicians can help reduce anxiety, depression, and isolation, especially in pediatric or elderly patients. They can also be used in group therapy settings, encouraging social interaction and collaboration. (5) Gamification and Motivation: Robotic systems can turn therapy into a game-like experience, making it more engaging. Patients may be more motivated to participate when therapy feels like playing music with a band rather than doing repetitive exercises. Supervisor Yung-hsiang Lu Mentor Type of work required This project will write computer programs to control two robots already in the PI's lab: a UR5e robot arm to play a cello and a Baxter robot to play a drum. The project will investigate methods that can convert music from MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) to the robots' motion. Beat detection will make the robots interactive with humans. Websites https://ai4musicians.org/ Qualifications The participant should have taken at least one programming course and is proficient in Python. Credit Hours 2 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)