For Andromeda Robotics founder Grace Brown, the ultimate engineering challenge is no longer getting a machine to move, but architecting the social intelligence required to truly understand human emotion.

During the quietest months of Melbourne’s severe COVID lockdowns, isolated from the world, the former mechatronics engineering student was trying to develop a cure for her own loneliness.

“I found myself in a situation for over five months where I had no face-to-face contact,” Brown told create.  “I had no in-person classes, my family were in Brisbane; I didn’t have a partner, so I wasn’t allowed to leave and see anyone. It was the first time in my life I experienced true isolation.

“Reflecting on those feelings, I wanted to build something for myself that could at least alleviate some of the loneliness I was experiencing.”

By the end of that lockdown, Brown was convinced that a robotic companion could be an effective solution to the loneliness epidemic. Enter Abi.

Watch the video feature above to learn more.