Kyle McGinley: Using AI and Robotics to Support Parkinson’s Caregivers

Kyle McGinley, a junior electrical and computer engineering student at Temple University, is applying artificial intelligence and robotics to address the challenges of elderly care. Working within Temple’s Computer Fusion Lab, McGinley has contributed to the development of an AI-integrated android companion designed to support individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their in-home caregivers.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Computer Fusion Lab and the Temple School of Social Work at the Barnett College of Public Health. The primary goal of the robotic companion is to reduce the mental load on caregivers by managing routine tasks, rather than replacing the human element of care.

Technical Implementation and AI Integration

To create the companion, McGinley and three classmates rebuilt an older lab robot using a combination of modern software and hardware. The team utilized Python and C++ to develop the robot’s control, perception, and behavior systems.

A key feature of the robot is the integration of Google’s Gemini AI. This large language model allows the android to handle routine administrative and health-related tasks, such as scheduling medication reminders and setting alarms for upcoming doctor visits.

This focus on health education software and AI development systems aligns with the criteria for the Butz Scholarship, which McGinley received in 2025. The scholarship is awarded annually to electrical and computer engineering undergraduates who demonstrate financial need and an interest in software development, AI systems, or health education software.

Academic and Research Path

McGinley’s path to robotics was nontraditional. After graduating high school in 2018, he spent time exploring different career paths and took courses at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell while working part-time. He eventually returned to Temple University to pursue his bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering.

His interest in robotics and coding was sparked after taking a course with Li Bai, PhD, who serves as the associate dean of research, graduate studies, and faculty affairs. This led to his appointment as an undergraduate research assistant in the Computer Fusion Lab under the supervision of Bai, an IEEE Senior Member.

In addition to his research, the 26-year-old serves as a teaching assistant for a digital circuit design course. In this role, he assists approximately 35 students with debugging code and resolving hardware issues on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) boards.

Professional Development and IEEE Involvement

Beyond the lab and classroom, McGinley is an active member of the IEEE student branch at Temple University. He currently serves as the club’s historian, where he manages social media accounts and assists with event planning and multimedia documentation.

McGinley emphasizes that the soft skills gained through these extracurricular activities are as critical as technical proficiency. He notes that academic environments often prioritize memorization over interpersonal communication.

In school, they don’t teach you how to communicate with people. They only teach you how to remember stuff. Working well with people is one of the most underrated skills that a lot of students don’t understand is important.

Kyle McGinley

Looking toward the future, McGinley aims to transition from academia to the engineering industry to gain real-world experience. His long-term career goals include moving into project management or a technical lead role, focusing on the creation of impactful engineering projects.