Jakarta, INTI – The surge in gadget use among young children has become a growing concern for many parents, especially as digital dependency continues to rise in recent years. Responding to this issue, the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) Batch 6 held from November to December 2024 provided a platform for young innovators to deliver real, technology-based solutions. In this competition, a team of students from BINUS University captured the attention of thousands of participants with PawPal an AI- and IoT-powered smart doll which eventually led them to win 1st Best Team at the SIC 2024/2025 event in Jakarta. This innovation serves as a meaningful answer to the need for safe, engaging, and healthier educational tools for children.
PawPal: A Smart Doll for Children Aged 4–8
PawPal is an interactive doll powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), created by the Rarevolution team from the School of Computer Science, BINUS University. It is designed for children aged 4–8 as a playful yet educational companion without relying on screen-based devices.
Equipped with features such as Talk to Me, Math Adventure, Would You Rather, and Guess the Sound, PawPal supports comprehensive cognitive and social stimulation. The doll can understand conversations and respond in a language familiar to the child, creating a natural sense of companionship.
Innovation Background: The Inspiring Challenge of SIC
PawPal was born from a key challenge in SIC Batch 6: creating a technology-based solution that delivers positive societal impact. Through a stringent selection process involving more than 10,000 participants, the Rarevolution team succeeded in standing out with an innovation that is both relevant and practical.
The integration of AI and IoT proves that Indonesian students are capable of producing concrete solutions to everyday issues particularly the high screen-time exposure among children. PawPal emerges as an accessible, child-friendly option that provides a fun and educational experience.
Advanced Features That Support Children’s Learning
PawPal is designed to resemble a friendly, bear-shaped plush toy. With a built-in microphone, mini computer, and speaker, the doll can interact through voice commands.
Some of the core technologies used include:
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AI Qwen2.5-7B for generative language capability
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Whisper-id for converting children’s speech into text
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MMS-TTS (Multilingual Multi Speaker Text-to-Speech) to produce natural-sounding responses
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IoT Integration, allowing the doll to connect and respond in real-time
Through these features, PawPal encourages children to learn while playing introducing critical thinking, basic math skills, and creative choice-based games.
Development Challenges: Language Adaptation for Indonesian Children
Despite its promising strengths, PawPal still faces challenges, particularly in language processing. The current language model primarily optimizes Malay, prompting the development team to work on implementing Indonesian language support to improve natural interaction.
This enhancement is a key development focus moving forward, ensuring that PawPal becomes more suitable for Indonesian children, both linguistically and contextually.
Conclusion
PawPal’s victory at SIC Batch 6 is not only a significant achievement for BINUS University students but also proof that AI and IoT innovations hold immense potential for social impact. With a strong concept, clear educational purpose, and relevant technological implementation, PawPal stands as a powerful example of how technology can be used to address real-world challenges particularly in supporting children’s growth and development without relying on screen-based devices.
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