Apple’s new research robot takes a page from Pixar’s playbook
Last month, Apple offered more insight into its consumer robotics -work via A research paper This states that characteristics such as expressive movements are the key to optimizing the interaction between people and robot. “Like most animals,” the report begins, “people are very sensitive to movement and subtle changes in motion.”
To illustrate his point, Apple is a tribute to Pixar, another company founded with the help of the late Steve Jobs. Since Pixar made his debut for the first time A short film of the same name from 1985The Luxo Jr. lamp served as the old mascot of the animation studio. For his research, Apple also chose a lamp for its own “non-Antropomorf” example. After all, lamps have no obvious human properties, but they can be made to behave in known ways.
“For robots to communicate more natural with people,” notes the paper, “the design of robot movements must integrate expressive qualities, such as intention, attention and emotions, but also integrate, in addition to traditional functional considerations such as task fulfillment and time efficiency.”
A video Released in combination with the paper shows some of these movements. It is not surprising that they usually reflect that of Pixar’s creation. This includes the same analog parts, where the lampshade serves as the head, while the arm is in a neck.
The most intriguing part of the video, with regard to potential productization, comes as a user asks the robot. At its simplest, the nameless lamp robot works as a more kinetic version of a HomePod, Amazon Echo or other smart speaker. The person who stands at the lamp asks for a question and the robot responds in Siri’s voice.
A split screen video emphasizes the importance of expressive movements. Asked how the weather is outside, one version simply states the answer. The other turns his head to look out the window as if the display provides insight into which robot can draw. It is a simple example, but one that drives home how even small movements use our Hagedis Breinen Paridolia. The reputation of expressive movements helps to form a connection between people and object.
Apple’s research arrives as the company is reportedly increases its consumer robotics efforts prior to the planned release of a more advanced Smart Home system. It is clear how these lessons can be applied to make a robot -like hub -hub more expressive. It is similar to the approach that Amazon has followed with his astro robot. However, the absorption of a non-Antropomorphic form factor in the study means that the robot can be even less humanoid than that of Amazon.
Rumors around the coming release have described the hub as “a robot arm with an iPad.” It is easy to see how the lamp shape factor can be applied there. Of course, Apple’s consumer Robotics division still seems to be the research phase. Between now and then enough can happen, from a large shift in form factor to a decision to pull the plug from the project prior to the launch.
