Lifelike, Gender-Neutral Bot With Realistic Expressions ‘Wakes Up,’ Now For Sale
Video screenshot via Engineered Arts
The time is here. One humanoid has crossed over Uncanny Valley to give the most humanlike expressions yet. ‘Ameca’, created by UK robotics firm Engineered Arts, is now available for sale and rent.
The latest video shared by the company shows the robot “waking up” in the most surreal way, almost like Pinocchio does when the Blue Fairy turns him into a real human boy.
Ameca opens its eyes to this unfamiliar world and gawks at its working hands, admiring them up close. It looks taken aback upon discovering the camera and realizes it is not alone.
According to Engineered Arts’ website, Ameca is “the world’s most advanced human-shaped robot representing the forefront of human-robotics technology.”
The robot doesn’t have a gender or race, per a report by NowThis. This—coupled with its hyperrealistic facial expressons—is a deliberate move by its makers for it to empathically connect with human beings.
“The reason for making a robot that looks like a person is to interact with people,” Engineered Arts’ founder Will Jackson told Reuters. “The human face is a very high bandwidth communication tool, and that’s why we built these expressive robots.”
Video screenshot via Engineered Arts
Body movements appear to be Ameca’s forte, if not its only strength. Engineered Arts hasn’t installed it with the usual sophisticated artificial intelligence brains associated with the likes of Sophia the Robot. Rather, it’s more like a chatbot in a humanlike body, and can even be wired to work as a person’s avatar controlled from afar.
Ameca might not have realistic human skin, but its motions are right up there. “Humanlike artificial intelligence needs a humanlike artificial body,” says Engineered Arts, adding that Ameca’s natural movements allow it to “strike an instant rapport with anybody.”
And if you think this robot is still in the works and far away from humanity, you’ve got another think coming. Ameca is now ready for market, and can even attend events. The lockdown had its perks, it seems.
[via Nerdist, NowThis, Reuters, video and images via Engineered Arts]
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