- Apple showed a robot lamp in a new research work
- The work here can hint future product plans, and the expression is front and central.
- The robot lamp prototype reminds us of Pixar and Disney
There have been many rumors that Apple works on internal robotic projects, especially a table robot that could move and have an iPad screen, as Bloomberg reported. But thanks to a new research work published by Apple, we now have the first look at a robot built by the company, and is frankly cute.
In simpler terms, Apple has a robotic lamp that evokes the main vibrations of Pixar Luxo Jr., and would be very happy to see that it will finally reach the market. Even at this early stage, it is a much more playful and fun approach to robotics. Even so, this is a prototype in a research work by Apple Machine Learning, so it is still far from being something that can enter a store and buy.
The robot lamp is shown in a video in a research work entitled “Elec: expressive and functional movement design for non -anthropomorphic robot.” It is written by Yuhan Hu, Peide Huang, Mouli Sivapurapu and Jian Zhang.
That title certainly shows Apple’s reflective approach to robotics. He wants the robot to be expressive, similar to a human. This approach is similar to that of the Vector and Cozmo Robots of Anki or the animated faces associated with the Amazon star, it remains a robot only by invitation.
In the video, you can see how the robot is expressive and functional, which allows you to interact with the researcher and follow the instructions of what seem to be gestures. At one point, you are asked to move through a fingers movie and respond. Apple’s goal, or at least that of this research team, wants it to be an elegant robot, one that is cozy, important for a device that will be at home, expressive and, ultimately, functional.
At one time, almost inclined to Apple movements in the health space, it reminds the user to drink water pushing the glass closer. It’s really great, and watching the full video, it’s only four minutes and forty -six seconds, it’s worth it.
As a fan of Disney and Pixar, I find the atmosphere very similar to that of the Luxo Jr. lamp lover of fun, sometimes naughty that we all know. However, the lamp seem more to move or illuminate. In a scene, he is shown along with an assistant who interprets an answer, probably Siri, so he could have a built -in speaker. In another, he projects a video on a wall to help with a project that the researcher is carrying out.
The opening where the lamp comes alive, swinging, knocking down blocks and performing a delicious maneuver is simply great. While this does not give exact information about how a future product could be, it gives us a first vision of a Robot prototype made by Apple, and that certainly adds a little more credit to a potential device.
It also shows how Apple is thinking of a device that could be used daily in more interactions one by one with people, and there is a certain amount of attention that is dedicated to that. Apple’s elegant is much less dystopic and more fun and cozy, which is a better way of thinking about the future.
Apple writes in research work: “Nonverbal behaviors such as posture, gestures and gaze are essential to transmit internal states, both consciously and unconsciously, in human interaction. In order for robots to interact more naturally with humans, the design of the robot movement must also integrate expressive qualities, such as intention, attention and emotions, next to traditional functional considerations such as fulfillment of tasks, spatial limitations and time efficiency. “
It is clear that it is at the upper part of Apple’s mind, and that it could very well be a large differentiator for Apple in a space that is increasingly invoicing with robots of all kinds. You can see the research work in its entirety Machine Learning Research here.
