Tefi, a robotic guide dog built to help the differently-abled

Meet Tefi, a robotic dog that looks like something out of 'The Jetsons.' This Spanish-made prototype is endowed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be one of the great advances for the differently-abled.

Photo: CSIC Communication - Lorenzo Planas

A team from the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in Spain, recently presented Tefi, the name with which they baptized this revolutionary prototype, to the world.

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Among the many advantages that Tefi can offer, is its ability to distinguish, without mistake, between a person and an object. It seems something simple but in robotics this is a great advance in precision.

Photo: CSIC Communication

The robotic dog's AI has an automatic learning system that works with the help of a camera that Tefi wears on its head.

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In addition, its operating system can be connected to Google, which allows it to obtain real-time information on traffic, weather which is then communicated to its owner or people nearby by voice commands.

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Obviously, on a visual level, Tefi is far from the guide dogs that have inspired the researchers who created it.

Photo: CSIC Communication

But the advantage it has, being a quadruped, is that it adapts to any environment, even stairs or rough terrain. Tefi is also agile enough to do a backflip.

Photo: CSIC Communication

Its robotic nature allows it to implement a series of advantageous resources allowing Tefi to do things that would be impossible for real dogs.

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For example, the GPS that allows Tefi to take advantage of tools such as Google Maps to locate specific places such as stores, pharmacies, hospitals...

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Tefi even has the ability to notify their owner of important dates and times such as a medical appointments. What's more, since Tefi has internet access, it can locate a floor plan of the building, see if it's accessible, and guide its owner to the relevant query.

Photo: CSIC Communication

In addition, Tefi also has artificial vision algorithms that complement its navigation with the identification of certain significant objects such as traffic signs, billboards, chairs, even QR codes.

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Tefi, in addition to being the perfect tool for the blind, has been designed so that it can also assist the elderly with dementia or Alzheimer's patients.

Photo: CSIC Communication

In fact, Tefi has the ability to tell its owner what it is seeing, in real time, through the camera, thanks to the information it receives from the internet.

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Being connected to the mobile phone network, Tefi could also contact the emergency department if needed, or a taxi or a relative when appropriate.

Photo: CSIC Communication

And, furthermore, as the team of creators of Tefi has indicated, manufacturing robotic dogs is much cheaper than raising guide dogs.

Photo: CSIC Communication

Of course, on an emotional level, a real guide dog has that extra affection and closeness that Tefi does not provide. It is difficult to love a robot and very easy to end up loving our beloved pet.

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In a next phase, the researchers want to implement sensors that warn of high blood pressure, the presence of chemical agents or other risk situations for the owner.

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Technological evolution is ready to take the next step and Tefi could be one of the banners of this new era.

Photo: CSIC Communication