Creating Humanoid Robots with Natural Movements: The Story of Amica

Summary

In this article, we explore the development of Amica, a humanoid robot created by the team at Engineered Arts. The team aims to avoid the “uncanny valley” effect by focusing on the robot’s movements and gestures, leaving the AI and dialogue to the universities and companies that buy them. Amica is built for entertainment and education and uses dynamic data to make its movements appear more human-like. The article discusses the design and functionality of Amica, including its facial expressions, head material, compliance, and hand dexterity.

The Importance of Natural Movements
Amica’s Design and Functionality
The Role of Compliance in Safe Human-Robot Interaction
Fine-Tuning Amica’s Design and Functionality
Conclusion

The Importance of Natural Movements

Engineered Arts is a team of designers and roboticists who have created numerous prototypes and designs to create a humanoid robot that can communicate and move in ways that people can understand. Their latest creation, Amica, aims to avoid the “uncanny valley” effect, where something artificial can trigger a feeling of creepiness. The team studies human behavior to mimic movement and communication in the robot, leaving the AI and dialogue to the universities and companies that buy them.

Amica’s Design and Functionality

Amica’s facial expressions are created by four different facial action units that transition smoothly from a smile to a neutral expression. The robot’s head is made of a composite material with motors for driving the face, and the skin is thin to make it more realistic. The team categorizes and records every part they make, allowing them to quickly iterate on designs.

Amica is a compliant robot, which means it is safe around people. It uses a hybrid pneumatic electric approach that was discovered with the team’s earlier robot, Robo-Thespian. This approach allows the robot to move in a safe and natural way, avoiding any potential harm to humans.

The Role of Compliance in Safe Human-Robot Interaction

Compliance is an essential aspect of safe human-robot interaction. A compliant robot is designed to be safe around people, with soft and flexible materials that allow for natural movements. Compliance also ensures that the robot can adapt to its environment and interact with people in a non-threatening way.

Fine-Tuning Amica’s Design and Functionality

The team is still fine-tuning Amica’s design and functionality, with a focus on perfecting its hand dexterity. The robot is built for entertainment and education, and the team uses dynamic data to make the robot’s movements appear more human-like. The team has gone through numerous prototypes and designs to create a robot that can communicate and move in ways that people can understand.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Engineered Arts has created a humanoid robot, Amica, that aims to avoid the “uncanny valley” effect by focusing on natural movements and gestures. The team has studied human behavior to mimic movement and communication in the robot, leaving the AI and dialogue to the universities and companies that buy them. Compliance is an essential aspect of safe human-robot interaction, and the team has designed Amica to be a compliant robot. The team is still fine-tuning Amica’s design and functionality, with a focus on perfecting its hand dexterity. Overall, the article highlights the importance of gaining knowledge through experimentation, even if the end result is not successful.