A robot programmed to act like a 7-year-old girl works to combat fear and loneliness in hospitals

• Robin the Robot, developed by Expper Technologies, visits patients’ rooms at the HealthBridge Orange Specialty Pediatric Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) • Robin the Robot visits with a patient at the HealthBridge Orange Specialty Pediatric Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) • Activities Coordinator Melissa Delaney interacts with Robin the Robot as it visits patients’ rooms at the HealthBridge Orange Specialty Pediatric Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) • Cara Nguyen with her daughter, Kathy, 18, are visited by Robin the Robot at the HealthBridge Orange Specialty Pediatric Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.(AP Phot