In the News

WCVB TV 5’s Chronicle aired a story about PABI, a sophisticated and loveable robotic penguin developed by WPI and Salem State University that could change the way behavioral therapies are provided to children with autism. PABI is the brainchild of WPI mechanical and robotics engineering professor Gregory Fischer and Salem State University School of Education professor Laurie Dickstein-Fischer. 

• WPI received a $5 million state grant for a new healthcare research and product development initiative. The new center, PracticePoint at WPI, will be established at the college's Gateway Park. 

WCVB Channel 5 featured PABI an autism therapy robot during its recent Cutting Edge segment. PABI, a co-creation of WPI robotics engineering professor Greg Fischer and his wife Laurie Dickstein-Fischer who is an education professor at Salem State University, effectively applies technology to address the psychological needs of the autistic population. 

Greg Fischer, director of WPI’s Automation and Interventional Medicine lab, is helping to develop a robot that assists autistic children.

Featured was the work of Greg Fischer, associate professor, mechanical engineering, who, with his wife, Laurie Dickstein-Fischer, Ph.D., a professor at Salem State, developed the robotic penguin PABI (Penguin Autism Behavioral Intervention) for autistic children.