Sick kids get Christmas gifts delivered by Rudolph robot

By Isobel Williams

Sick children in the hospital were left delighted after receiving Christmas presents - from a robot 'dressed' as Rudolph.

Patients at Leeds Children's Hospital were thrilled when a robot - dressed as a reindeer - came by their rooms delivering gifts last week.

One video from the day shows the moment Katie Deaton, 12, from Harrogate, lit up with excitement as the robot stopped by her room.

Katie had been staying in the hospital for around four days after having surgery on her leg and her foot for a left-sided hemiplegia - a type of cerebral palsy.

Her mom, Jo Deaton, 41, says the experience was lovely for all the children and parents at what would have been a miserable time.

The council worker said: "The robots were singing Christmas songs and when they opened it up there was a little present inside for Katie. It was lovely, and it made her feel really happy.

"We were surprised when they asked if a robot could come in, but it sounded lovely so we thought why not. She needed cheering up as she was in a lot of pain.

"She was really excited. Her face lit up and she was really pleased. It was a warming experience.

"She thought it was brilliant, she was laughing and thought it was really funny. She told all her friends and they were quite jealous.

"She was pretty much bed-bound so it really cheered her up."

Jo added that the robots were covered in reindeer stickers and were playing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as they entered the room which she said was "really sweet."

The present Katie received included a chocolate selection box and a set of clay beads.

The nurses in the ward also received little presents from the cheerful robots, Jo said.

The machines, made by the company Starship Technologies, were the brainchild of Skype founder Ahti Heinla as part of a NASA competition to collect space rocks on Mars.

The design didn't win the competition, but the robots were released and are now used to deliver food shopping at from Co-op supermarkets.

The company says one of its robots took a day off to help out Santa Claus, using its AI technology to avoid obstacles around the hospital.

A spokesperson from Starship Technologies said: "The festively dressed robot will navigate hospital corridors and negotiate obstacles such as beds, clinical equipment, staff and visitors in order to make personalized bedside deliveries.

"Scores of gifts are being donated by Starship Technologies for this unique Christmas delivery event!

"The robots - among a fleet of 2,000 worldwide who deliver shopping and takeaways - have world-leading, AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology (that includes cameras, sensors and GPS) to help them navigate their way around. They can climb curbs, skirt around bikes, dogs and pedestrians."