Scientists develop emotional robots that bond with humans
Robots that bond like human children and display emotion are being developed at a British university.
he £1.68m Feelix Growing Project, a global partnership of robotic experts, psychologists and neuroscientists, aims to produce machines that can engage emotionally with humans. Like children, they will form attachments with their human handlers.
They will also display "emotional resonance"- an ability to mimic people's emotions to enhance positive bonding.
Feelix is an acronym of Feel, Interact, eXpress.
The robots, being built at the University of Hertfordshire, will be able to see, hear, touch and judge the distance between themselves and humans. They will recognise human body language, and respond to emotional states such as anger, fear and happiness.
One of the first machines - a box on wheels - is already showing imprinted behaviour, The Engineer magazine reported. Like a human baby, it has become attached to its "mother" and follows her around.
Dr Lola Canamero, who is co-ordinating the project, said: "If robots have to be integrated with humans then they should be able to develop social and emotional skills."
The machines developed in Hertfordshire will be simple demonstration platforms to test different technologies. However, some will be given artificial heads capable of producing facial expressions.
By John von Radowitz
Published: 19 March 2007
© 2007 Independent News and Media Limited
Robots that bond like human children and display emotion are being developed at a British university.
he £1.68m Feelix Growing Project, a global partnership of robotic experts, psychologists and neuroscientists, aims to produce machines that can engage emotionally with humans. Like children, they will form attachments with their human handlers.
They will also display "emotional resonance"- an ability to mimic people's emotions to enhance positive bonding.
Feelix is an acronym of Feel, Interact, eXpress.
The robots, being built at the University of Hertfordshire, will be able to see, hear, touch and judge the distance between themselves and humans. They will recognise human body language, and respond to emotional states such as anger, fear and happiness.
One of the first machines - a box on wheels - is already showing imprinted behaviour, The Engineer magazine reported. Like a human baby, it has become attached to its "mother" and follows her around.
Dr Lola Canamero, who is co-ordinating the project, said: "If robots have to be integrated with humans then they should be able to develop social and emotional skills."
The machines developed in Hertfordshire will be simple demonstration platforms to test different technologies. However, some will be given artificial heads capable of producing facial expressions.
By John von Radowitz
Published: 19 March 2007
© 2007 Independent News and Media Limited
