Researchers in Calgary, Alberta, have tested a new robot programmed to distract children during flu shots. The study, published in medical journal Vaccine , found the "MEDi" robot reduced pain and distress in children getting the flu vaccine at Alberta Children's Hospital. The robot, named MEDi™ (which stands for Medicine and Engineering Designing Intelligence), was purchased by the University of Calgary’s Shulich School of Engineering from Aldebaran Robotics — a French startup company headquartered in Paris — and can mimic many things a child can do. Reducing children's pain and distress towards flu vaccinations: A novel and effective application of humanoid robotics Objective Millions of children in North America receive an annual flu vaccination, many of whom are at risk of experiencing severe distress. Millions of children also use technologically advanced devices such as computers and cell phones. Based on this familiarity, we introduced another sophisticated d