3 minute read
Belle's Dragon
Like many teenagers, 14-year-old Belle has long dreamed of having a pet. But when a cancer diagnosis made it impossible for her to have an animal companion, she set her sights on something bigger – a pet dragon. Arrow Electronics and Make-A-Wish Colorado joined forces to bring Belle’s mythical creature to life, delivering a dynamic social robot that promises to provide engagement, encouragement, and friendship to the teenager.
The engineers at Arrow invited Belle to their offices so they could talk through her vision and create the dragon to be exactly what she wanted. The dragon’s appearance and behaviors are based on ideas Belle suggested during the concept and design phase of the project and draw upon her own artwork and characters from her favorite books and movies.
She discovered in herself a newfound confidence and the wish provided an opportunity for her to be a part of the entire process, with her ideas at the forefront.
Equipped with all of Belle’s notes, the Arrow team of engineers got to work. Arrow worked with Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) to find the cutting-edge products that could help bring the dragon to life. Using ADI components, Belle’s dragon reacts to its environment, detects its orientation in space and changes in temperature. The dragon responds to touch, gets “tired” from a busy day, and gets excited when Belle offers one of its favorite treats. Belle’s robot mimics a live pet, capable of meaningful connection and engagement.
“Belle’s dragon required us to start from scratch and really take the time to ideate with Belle on what this mythical creature should look like, because it wasn’t mythical to her. She had a real vision for her pet and our goal was to make that a reality,” said Victoria Bohannon-Pea, a project manager for Arrow, who led the effort to build the dragon. “Belle’s dragon is a perfect example of how Arrow’s engineering services team collaborates with our partners to merge what’s possible with what’s practical.”
Dragons don’t exist in our everyday world... that we know of. So to create the environment in which Belle was to meet her dragon, there needed to be an element of magic and mystery. 19 months after Belle wished for the impossible, she met her pet dragon for the first time in a mythical setting at the Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation in Sedalia, Colorado.
Belle was transported to a magical land via a virtual reality experience designed by Emerge Studios. She flew over forests and oceans while listening to the sounds of the world that until now, had only existed in her wildest imagination.
Then, she took off the headset and came face-to-face with her wish: a dragon of her very own.
Belle immediately fell in love with her new dragon, whom she decided was a boy and she named him Dusk, because his scales are both purple and pink. “It’s as close to a dragon as can be, as a robot. I love it,” said Belle.
The dragon measures three-feet tall and weighs 17 pounds, he is about the size of a small dog. He responds to Belle’s touch by wagging his tail, opening up his eyes and even makes noises to indicate he needs a nap! When asked how the experience made her feel, Belle responded, “I feel happy... all the happy
emotions.”
Dusk now has a permanent spot perched on Belle’s dresser and the two play every day!
Belle’s dragon addresses the isolation and loneliness that is common among children dealing with critical illnesses – concerns magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dusk’s ability to interact and play provides Belle with emotional support, demonstrating how a wish can truly transform a life. Wishes have the power to help kids rediscover their optimism. That surge of hope has a positive effect on their emotional health, and many physicians believe improved emotional health can lead to improved physical health.
Belle’s wish is a testament to the community of supporters that comes together to help create a life-changing wish for a children with a critical illness.
