On April 16th, 2025, the McKechnie Family LIFE Home welcomed guests to its Spring Open House, offering a hands-on look at innovative research with a spotlight on social and assistive robots. Visitors explored the facility at their own pace, engaged with researchers from across campus, and participate in interactive demonstrations.

A highlight of the afternoon was the opportunity to meet the stars of the show: Moxie, an AI-powered companion robot, Misty, a personal programmable robot, and Stretch, a mobile manipulator. Students demonstrated the robots’ newly developed skills from this semester’s projects, impressing guests with their real-world applications.

In addition to the spotlighted robots, faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers showcased a wide range of projects, including innovations in bathroom robotics accessibility, virtual reality applications, fall detection technology, and more. Through informative posters and lively discussions, the event fostered curiosity and meaningful dialogue around assistive technology for people with a range of abilities.

Notably, the LIFE Home was honored to welcome distinguished guests including Dr. Dan Fisk, Dean Emerita of AHS Tanya Gallagher, AHS Assistant Dean of Advancement JeanDriscoll, retired Associate Dean Bill Goodman, and others whose support and interest continue to inspire our work.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us and helped make the Spring Open House a meaningful and memorable event.

Check out this video highlighting the event!