Apple demonstrated the need to develop robots attending “expressive plastic”

A study published on the Arxiv website is a “functional design design” Eleguntthat allows robots to convey intentions, emotions and attitude through what a person would call “plastic.”

In the study, the main attention was lent to a robot similar to a lamp that resembles an animated character Pixar. The researchers scheduled the robot for two types of movements: purely functional, aimed at performing tasks and more expressive, designed to transmit the internal state of the robot.

Source: Venturebeat

During the user test with the participation of 21 people, it turned out that these expressive movements significantly improve the interaction of people with the robot and their perception of the robot. This effect was especially remarkable during the implementation of social tasks, such as reproducing music or participating in a conversation, but it was less notable when performing purely functional tasks, such as lighting.

The study is carried out at a time when the big technological companies increasingly study home robotics. Until now, most modern house robots, such as general robots, focus exclusively on functionality. But the work of Apple scientists shows that the addition of more natural and expressive movements can make future robots more attractive companions.

The key hypothesis of the corporation is as follows: instead of focusing exclusively on what robots can do, companies must take into account what feelings cause robots in people. And, perhaps, in the future, the robots design will demand the same participation of animators and specialists in behavioral psychology as engineers.

As robots become increasing from the range of the next abandoned devices to the state of truly indispensable assistants.

And for companies it will become a challenge if Apple employees themselves and their colleagues from other companies can carry out the results of the study in products that people not only use, but also want to sincerely interact with them. Apple’s report on this topic will be presented additionally at the conference. 2025 Interactive Systems Design In Madeira in July this year.