China's first humanoid robot for diagnosis and treatment of autism has opened up new possibilities for autism rehabilitation and long-term care.
More than 13 million people in China are living with autism. Difficulties in screening, intervention, and rehabilitation have remained urgent challenges for their families.
The humanoid robot is capable of precisely capturing and interpreting subtle signals from the human brain, and translating them into its coordinated movements.
It combines brain-computer interface technology with humanoid robotics to support early screening and educational intervention for children with autism, and it enables more natural and varied interactions, which help children with autism feel more comfortable and engaged, said Kong Xiangzeng, executive dean of the Artificial Intelligence research institute under the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou City of east China's Fujian Province.
"Brain signals are millions of times weaker than mobile phone signals. Blinking and heartbeat can also interfere, making them difficult to separate. Our team uses non-invasive, high-precision EEG technology to capture these weak signals without surgery," said Zhang Zhongji, assistant researcher with the institute.
Control algorithms independently developed by the research team can filter out interferences in real time, identify specific brainwave patterns and accurately translate them into control commands for the robot.
Healthcare specialists say early screening and rehabilitation are crucial for people with autism, yet current approaches often lack objective data.
Through "mind-based interactions" with children, the robot converts attention levels and motor imagery into measurable data, making screening more precise and rehabilitation more scientific and efficient.
At present, the project has received support from 11 national key research programs, with a complete technology chain and full independent intellectual property rights.
The robot has already been put into use and is now being applied in collaboration with hospitals and autism rehabilitation centers.
"When a child struggles to respond to certain questions, the robot can guide them more flexibly and quickly toward the correct answer. It also provides therapists with precise baseline data, making it easier for them to work together with the parents to develop personalized treatment plans for the child's next stage of therapy," said Kong.
The team says the humanoid robot platform will continue to expand beyond autism rehabilitation.
In the future, it is expected to support active rehabilitation for patients with stroke, spinal cord injuries, and other motor impairments, helping more people with neurological disorders regain everyday functional abilities.
China's first humanoid robot for autism treatment offers new possibilities for rehabilitation
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he estimates a deal with Iran will be signed "in the next day or two."
Trump said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 News that the United States and Iran will probably meet over the weekend to finalize a deal to end the war. "The Iranians want to meet and make a deal," he said.
He said "the naval blockade on Iran is helping to make a deal. I will not lift it until we make a deal," adding that "the biggest part of this deal is that it will make Israel safer. This deal is good for Israel."
According to the channel, one component of the deal under discussion is that the United States will release 20 billion U.S. dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
In exchange, Iran would give up its stockpile of enriched uranium, and would be only allowed to have nuclear research reactors to produce medical isotopes, all above ground.
Trump also stressed that Israel must stop the strikes on Lebanon, saying, "They can't keep blowing up buildings. I'm not going to allow that."
Also on Friday, Trump said in a phone interview with Bloomberg that a deal to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is mostly complete as talks over a lasting peace deal will "probably" be held this weekend in Pakistan.
Trump said in the phone interview that Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and will not receive any frozen funds from the United States.
"Most of the main points are finalized. It'll go pretty quickly," Trump said.
Asked if he would travel to Pakistan to sign the potential deal, Trump said: "I may."
Trump again denied that the moratorium on Iran's nuclear program would expire after 20 years. "No years, unlimited," Trump said.
The United States will get all of Iran's nuclear "dust" with no money having exchanged hands "in any way, shape, or form," Trump wrote on social media earlier on Friday. Multiple Western media outlets have interpreted Trump's reference to nuclear "dust" as meaning Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
Iran has yet to comment on any deal beyond the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, nor on claims made by Trump that Tehran had offered concessions, including over the key issue of its nuclear program.
If the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire between the two countries and will close the waterway, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Friday, citing an informed source close to the Supreme National Security Council.
The Iranian side has yet to respond to the media report on the enriched uranium issue.
The United States and Iran had their first round of negotiations in Pakistan's Islamabad last weekend to ease tension in the Middle East. The talks, which failed to produce an agreement, took place after a ceasefire was announced on April 8 between Iran, the United States, and Israel, following 40 days of fighting.
Iran tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on the country on Feb. 28. The United States also imposed a naval blockade on the strait following the failed negotiations in Islamabad.
Earlier on Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the strait had been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade would "remain in full force." In response, Iran warned of closing the waterway again if the U.S. blockade continues.
Trump says may sign deal with Iran "in the next day or two": Israeli media
Trump claims peace deal with Iran mostly complete: report
