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Apple Researchers have one new framework To make non-humanoid robots, move more natural and more expressively during interactions with people, which may make the way free for more fascinating robot-like assistants in houses and workplaces.
The research, published this month on Arxiv, introduces expressive and functional motion design ElegantWith which robots can transfer intentions, emotions and attitudes by completing their movements – instead of just completing functional tasks.
“For robots to communicate more naturally with people, robot movement design should integrate expressive qualities – such as intention, attention and emotions – in addition to traditional functional considerations such as task fulfillment, spatial limitations and time efficiency,” the researchers of Apple’s robotics write in their Research paper.
How a desk lamp became the perfect test topic for robotemotions
The study was aimed at a lamp -like robot, reminiscent of Pixar’s animated Luxo Jr. Character, equipped with a 6-axle robot arm and a head with a light and projector. The researchers programmed the robot with two types of movements: pure functional focused on completing tasks and more expressive movements that are designed to communicate the internal state of the robot.
When testing users with 21 participants, the expressive movements significantly improved the involvement of people and the perception of the robot. This effect was mainly pronounced during social tasks such as playing music or entering into a conversation, although it was less impactful for pure functional tasks such as adjusting lighting.
“Without playfulness, I could find this kind of interaction with a robot annoying instead of welcome and fascinating,” a participant noted a study, and emphasized how expressive movements even made potentially intrusive robot behavior more acceptable.
User tests reveal age gap in robot movement preferences
The research is because large technology companies are increasingly exploring robotics at home. Although most current home robots such as robot cleaners focus purely on function, this work suggests that adding more natural, expressive movements could make future robots more attractive.
However, the researchers note that balance is crucial. “There must be a balance between involvement through movement and completing the task that is given, otherwise people can become impatient,” a participant noted.
The study also showed that older participants were significantly less receptive to expressive robot movements, which suggests that robot behavior should be adjusted on the basis of user preferences.
The future of social robotics: finding the sweet spot between function and expression
Although Apple rarely discusses its robotics research publicly, this work offers intriguing hints about how the technology giant could approach future home robots. The study suggests a fundamental shift in robotics design: instead of concentrating solely on what robots can do, companies must consider how robots make people feel.
The challenge that lies for us is not only in programming robots to complete tasks, but also in welcome their presence in our most intimate spaces. While robots move from factory floors to living rooms, their success can depend less on rough efficiency and more on their ability to read the room – both literally and metaphorically.
Apple’s paper is presented on the 2025 Design interactive systems Conference in Madeira in July.
The results indicate a future in which robot design requires as much input from animators and behavioral psychologists as from engineers.
As robots occur more often in houses and workplaces, so that they move in ways that of course feel mechanically instead of mechanical, the difference can be between another forgotten gadget and a really indispensable companion. The real test will be whether companies such as Apple can translate these research insights into products that people not only use but really want to communicate.
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