Beyond the Uncanny Valley: New Technology Brings Robots to Life

Osaka University researchers have developed a technology that enables androids to express moods like excitement or drowsiness through dynamic facial movements modeled as overlapping, decaying waves.

While androids can mimic human expressions, their movements often feel artificial, creating discomfort. Traditional approaches rely on pre-programmed action sequences, requiring complex preparation and careful transition management to avoid unnatural expressions.

To overcome these challenges, lead researcher Hisashi Ishihara’s team introduced “waveform movements,” where gestures like blinking, breathing, and yawning are represented as individual waves that combine in real-time. This method removes the need for pre-set action scenarios and ensures smoother transitions.

Additionally, “waveform modulation” adjusts these waves based on the robot’s internal state, instantly reflecting mood changes in facial expressions. Senior author Koichi Osuka emphasizes that this advancement allows androids to display more natural, responsive emotions, enriching human-robot communication.

Ishihara envisions androids whose every movement reflects internal emotions, making them appear as if they have a heart. By enabling adaptive emotional expression, this technology brings robots closer to humanlike interaction, enhancing their role in communication.

Read Original Article: Scitechdaily

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