A team of researchers from Osaka University has developed a new system to replicate more realistic facial expressions in humanoid robot.
A team of researchers from Osaka University has developed a new system to replicate more realistic facial expressions in humanoid robots. The study, published in the Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics. Proposes an innovative approach based on “waveforms” to generate more fluid and natural facial movements.
The method, called “dynamic arousal expression , ” classifies various facial gestures. Such as yawning, blinking, and breathing as individual waveforms. These are then linked to the amplitude of movements such as opening and closing the lips, moving the eyebrows, or tilting the head. A control parameter based on a spectrum of moods, from “sleepy” to “excited,” determines how these waves propagate and overlap to adjust the physical characteristics of the robotic face.
According to the researchers, this approach eliminates the need to program individual facial movements for each emotional state. As is the case with current methods.”Automatically generating unique facial expressions to express a robot’s emotions, like psychological state, is essential for interactive robots”. According to the study authors.
A “sleepy” state, for example, results in specific breathing, yawning, and blinking parameters for the roboot.These combine to further amplify or reduce facial movements such as mouth size, eye blinking, and head tilt. Once calculated, the resulting physical movements are reproduced almost instantly.
Lead author of the study Professor Koichi Osuka stated: “More studies on the synthesis of expressive facial expressions would allow them with complicated facial movements. To display vividly expressions and convey mood changes in response to surrounding circumstances, including interactions with humans . “
While it represents a step toward more lifelike Robots, the system still has some limitations . Facial movements appear smoother and more natural than many contemporary machines. But their eyes remain clearly artificial. Additionally, the fact that the eyes often appear to move rapidly from side to side and lose focus does not help reduce the feeling of the uncanny valley .
Nevertheless, treating facial features as an interaction between waves of different intensities seems to offer more realistic results. Than considering them as pre-programmed one-to-one reactions. The next step could be to test the system on an adult robots to further reduce the feeling of strangeness.
This research opens up new possibilities for the development of humanoid robots with more natural and convincing facial expressions, potentially improving their ability to interact more effectively with humans in a variety of contexts, from assistive robotics to human-computer interaction research.https://youtu.be/QAvtAzdu_WQ?si=jWLvoO-epE9luWVi