Ameca: the robot with human-like expressions

Realistic facial expressions and movements

Engineered Arts, a robotics company, has introduced a new creation that may amaze and scare simultaneously. Its name is Ameca, a new humanoid robot without hair or skin, but it can display more human-like, natural-looking expressions.

In the first clip we saw, Ameca appears to wake up; it shows uncertainty at first, then mild astonishment when it moves its hands. Expressions and hand movements look so real. Then the robot appears surprised to see the viewer or the camera. The video ends with the robot making a friendly smile and moving hands.

Ameca looks to have a fully articulated head, face, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. However, Engineered Arts states that the robot is unable to walk, but this is something the company is considering implementing. It’s unclear how Ameca’s facial emotions were generated, although motion capture seems to be the most likely answer. Ameca is a “platform for generating AI”, according to the company, but it lets others build the essential machine learning algorithms.

Engineered Arts has previously stated that body and head movements are driven by “strong, silent, high-torque” motors, with everything built from the ground up to perform flawlessly. Cameras, depth sensors, LiDAR, and microphones are among the sensors used for the robot. The company also created browser-based software that interacts with numerous 3D apps used for VFX or game animation to manage movement.

The robot’s makers were taken aback by Ameca’s reactions when the finger invaded its ‘personal space’ in a new video. Ameca is available for purchase or event rental through the Engineered Arts website, although it can only operate stationary.

The company also developed 3 more robots: Mesmer, Quinn, and Robothespian.

Mesmer can display a huge range of human emotions, and it’s designed and built from 3D in-house scans of real people, allowing it to imitate human bone structure, skin texture, and expressions convincingly. It’s perfect to promote a brand.

Quinn can take care of customers’ needs at any front desk, point of information, ticket office, check-in desk, or lobby. The robot works out of the box, with no special setup or expertise needed. In addition, Quinn’s face tracking allows for consistent eye contact with visitors. Its sensors, software, and facial expressions keep Quinn responsive to your customer’s mood.

RoboThespian can be commanded remotely from anywhere. A range of expressive movements, speech, and songs can be animated in advance or on the go wherever you place them: at a theatre or trade show, on a live panel or TV show, in a room full of executives, or at a science park filled with visitors. 

Although these robots, especially Ameca, look realistic, they also appear uncanny. That’s why robots shouldn’t look like humans. They should be distinguishable, not only to look less scary but also for safety reasons.

Source engadget.com