Ontario Tech lab in Oshawa developing robotic guide-dog training tool and VR reflection system
Ontario Tech University’s Human Machine Lab in Oshawa is developing two AI-enabled “social” robotics projects: a robotic guide-dog training tool being built with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and a virtual-reality system that uses a robot the university describes as “Buddha-inspired.” Both projects are led by Dr. Patrick Hung, a professor in the university’s Faculty of Business and Information Technology.
The work could be relevant for people seeking accessibility supports or experimenting with new technology for guided reflection. Ontario Tech says applicants to guide-dog programs “may wait two to three years” to progress through early stages, and it describes the robotic tool as a way to practise some handling skills before receiving a live dog.
Ontario Tech says the lab’s robotic guide-dog project is intended to help people learn and practise key skills while they wait to enter guide-dog programs. Hung said the robot is not meant to replace a live animal.
“We’re not going to replace the real guide dog,” Hung said. “We just provide a technology to train the person before they get the real dog. This way we shorten the window of waiting for training.”
The second project, developed in co-operation with Hongik University in Mapo, Seoul, South Korea, uses a robot Ontario Tech describes as “Buddha-inspired” and modelled on a centuries-old statue from the National Museum of Korea.
Ontario Tech says the system combines a physical robot with a virtual-reality headset to guide users through a reflection session. Hung said the project is meant to offer another way for people to engage with AI “to get help when they need it.”
The university also said the lab’s work includes real-world testing and gathering feedback outside the lab, with students taking prototypes into the community. In the same announcement, graduate student Carlos Carrasco said students are encouraged to be transparent about using AI tools and not to rely on them without human oversight.
“Can you depend fully on AI? Absolutely not,” Carrasco said.