Last month, Apple has released more insight into consumer robotics work through a research paper claiming that expressive movement-like properties are key to optimizing human-robot interactions. It was provided. “Like most animals,” the report states, “humans are extremely sensitive to movement and subtle changes.”
To illustrate that point, Apple pays tribute to Pixar, another company founded with the help of the late Steve Jobs. Since Pixar's first debut in the eponymous short film in 1985, Luxo Jr. Lamp has been the long-standing mascot for the animation studio. For that research, Apple also chose its own example lamp of “inhumane form.” After all, lamps do not have obvious human-like traits, but they can behave in a familiar way.
“To allow robots to interact more naturally with humans,” the paper states. “Robot movement designs should likewise integrate expressive qualities such as intention, attention, and emotions along with traditional functional considerations such as task fulfillment and time efficiency.”
The video released along with the paper shows some of these moves. Naturally, they mainly reflect what Pixar has created. This includes the same similar parts, the lampshade functions like a head, and the arms are standing at the neck.
Regarding potential commercialization, the most interesting part of the video comes when the user queries the robot. In simplest terms, the nameless lamp robot works as a more kinetic version of the HomePod, Amazon Echo, or other smart speakers. Those facing the ramp ask for a query, and the robot responds with Siri's voice.
Split screen video emphasizes the importance of expressive movement. When you ask what the weather is like outside, one version simply states the answer. The other spins your head and looks out the window as if it were providing insights that the robot can draw. It's a simple example, but even small movements drive the way we use the paraidoria of our lizard brains. The familiarity of expressive movement helps to form connections between humans and objects.
Apple's research arrives as the company reportedly is bolstering its consumer robotics efforts ahead of the planned release of a more sophisticated smart home system. It is clear how these learnings are applied to make the robot home hub more expressive. It's similar to the approach that Amazon took with Astro Robot. However, including inhumane morphologies in research means that there may be fewer robots than Amazon people.
Rumors surrounding upcoming releases describe the hub as a “robot arm with an iPad attached.” You can easily see how the lamp form factor can be applied there. Of course, it appears that Apple's consumer robots division is still in the research phase. From big changes in form factors to decisions to pull the project plug before launch, there can be plenty of occasional events.
