Lovotics robot in an interaction. The bot is a dome shaped bot with a handful of sensors, battery, and wheels for movement. Very lovable. (via Lovotics)
The level of attachment between a human and a machine can only go so far. Although some people can become addicted to computers, it is the human at the other end of the connection that really keeps people engaged. A new field of robotics is studying and developing machines that will offer what we all want from other people: an affective and emotional connection. Although this would be artificial, the potential for this tech to engage humans over the long term is real but largely unknown. While most people are willing to entertain the thought of a robot loving them, a reciprocal, bidirectional love between human and machine is a bit harder for people to believe.
Hooman Samani, a researcher at the Social Robotics Lab at the National University of Singapore, works on making devices that can transfer not only data, but also emotions and affections. After years of research, he has found three methods to give robots the ability to interact on a level similar to human emotion. These modules are named Probabilistic Love Assembly (PLA), based on the psychology of love, Affective State Transition (AST), based on emotional changes and states and Artificial Endocrine Systems (AES), based on the human physiological signals that go along with feelings and emotions as response to stimulus. These provide the foundation for a new field of research called “Lovotics.”
Overview of the Bayesian network for "Probabilistic Love Assembly (PLA) module" (via Lovotics)
The PLA and AST methods rely on statistical methods to determine the robot’s mood. The first functions on a Bayesian Probabilistic Network and the second uses a Dynamic Bayesian Network. AES uses an algorithm that handles transitions from one affective state to another. These three systems can be incorporated into one robot to give it different layers and modes for interaction and perception.
The inputs to these functions and algorithms are provided by the human through touch, sound, sights and even locations. Parameters that measure the robot’s affective reaction include proximity, propinquity, repeated exposure, similarity, desirability, attachment, reciprocal liking, satisfaction, privacy, chronemics (study of time in nonverbal communication), attraction, form and mirroring.
(via Lovotics)
Samani has developed artificial hormones that mimic the effects of oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine in the robots behavior. Biological hormones that regulate body temperature, appetite etc., are also being developed in code that the robot can use to determine emotional state. So far, he has designed a simple robot in the shape of a hemisphere that wheels around looking for someone with a smile that will touch it and speak to it.
The goal of these types of robots is to increase the probability that a human will be engaged to a robot over a long period of time. This could be very useful in supporting caregivers and providing therapies to disabled people or elders. People with disorders could use them to develop communication skills. They could help kids and adults stay focused and engaged while learning and even provide personal assistance for tracking moods, giving companionship and influencing mood changes. Of course, there is a huge potential for making Lovotic robots for entertainment as well.
This field is particularly exciting because of all of the disciplines that it combines. Central concepts of engineering, robotics, computer science, and artificial intelligence are being combined with psychology, neuroscience, sociology, anthropology and philosophy. In other words, the combination of hard and soft sciences has unbound potentials in the new age of human-machine interactions.
Lovotics may be on to something. See the film "Robot & Frank," a look at how bots and humans can interact.
In the meantime, check out a Lovotics "episode" featuring their lovable bot:
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