In the past couple of years, dozens of children visiting the Yale Child Study Center have played with a green and wide-eyed robotic miniature brontosaurus called Pleo. These are children with autism, who normally have tremendous difficulty communicating with other people — but they eagerly interact with the robot.Sometimes, for instance, Pleo walks on a cartoon map showing mountains and rivers. Pleo is afraid of water, and manages to stop whimpering and cross the rivers only with a bit of encouragement from the child.Even more surprising: the children usually stay in a social mood after Pleo leaves the room.Read more at...SFARI, December 2010.