Recently, Apple released a research paper delving into the development of consumer-grade robots. The study emphasizes that expressive movements are crucial for enhancing human-robot interaction. From the outset, the report highlights that, like most animals, humans are highly sensitive to motion and subtle changes in movement.
To support this claim, Apple references Pixar Animation Studios as an example. Founded by the late Steve Jobs and others, Pixar's iconic character, the desk lamp named "Luxo Jr." from its 1985 short film, has long served as the company's mascot. Similarly, Apple selected a desk lamp as a "non-anthropomorphic" example in its research because, while it lacks obvious human features, it can be designed to exhibit familiar behaviors.
The paper suggests that for robots to interact more naturally with humans, their movement design should incorporate expressive traits such as intention, attention, and emotion, while also considering traditional functional factors like task completion and time efficiency.
A video accompanying the paper demonstrates these movements, many of which mimic Pixar's creations. For instance, the lampshade is treated as the head, and the supporting structure acts as the neck.
In the video, one of the most notable aspects is the robot's potential for productization. When questioned by users, the unnamed desk-lamp robot functions similarly to an enhanced version of smart speakers like HomePod or Amazon Echo. It responds to questions using Siri's voice when someone speaks directly to it.
Through split-screen footage, the study underscores the importance of expressive movements. When asked about the weather outside, one version of the robot simply answers the question, while another turns its "head" to look out the window, as if gathering information through sight. Although this is just a simple example, it demonstrates how even small movements can trigger anthropomorphic perception in the human brain. Expressive actions foster familiarity, helping to establish a connection between humans and objects.
Apple's release of this research coincides with rumors that the company is intensifying its efforts in developing consumer-grade robots to prepare for the launch of a more advanced smart home system. These findings could be applied to make home robot hubs more expressive. This approach aligns with the design philosophy of Amazon's Astro robot but hints at a less anthropomorphic form, suggesting Apple's robots may have fewer human-like characteristics than Amazon's offerings.
Rumors describe the upcoming product as a "robotic arm with an iPad attached." It's easy to envision how the desk-lamp form factor could fit into this design. However, Apple's consumer robotics division appears to still be in the research phase. Many things could change between now and the product's release, including significant design alterations or even the project being canceled before launch.
