Apple's Latest Innovation: A Pixar-Style Dancing Lamp Teases Future Home Robot
Apple's research division has unveiled a fascinating glimpse into the tech giant's potential venture into home robotics. A recent blog post on Apple's Machine Learning Research site highlighted a paper by an Apple research team, showcasing a tabletop robot designed to exhibit expressive movements, hinting at Apple's foray into the world of household robotics.
The paper, discovered by MacRumors, features a video demonstrating two desk-style lamp robots - one labelled "Expressive" and the other "Functional." The "Expressive" robot steals the show with its engaging personality and interactive capabilities, responding to gestures, voice commands, and even displaying a Siri-like voice.
In the video, the "Expressive" lamp robot is shown dancing to music, checking the weather by looking outside, following the researcher's movements to provide better lighting, and even nudging a glass of water towards her when reminded to drink. The lamp robot's ability to convey emotions, such as faux sadness when denied a hike, adds a human touch to the interaction.
Contrastingly, the "Functional" version of the lamp robot remains stationary unless prompted by a task, showcasing the stark difference in engagement and functionality when human-like characteristics are incorporated into a device.
Rumours have circulated about Apple's expansion into home devices, with mentions of a smart display and a tabletop robot in the pipeline. These devices are speculated to serve as personal assistants, video-calling devices, and smart home control centres, potentially integrating Siri for voice commands and interactions. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the robotic device could hit the market by 2026 or 2027, priced around $1,000.
While the Pixar-style lamp robot showcased in the video may not be intended for consumer release, it serves as a compelling demonstration of the importance of imbuing robots with expressiveness to enhance user engagement. Led by Yuhan Hu, Peide Huang, Mouli Sivapurapu, and Jian Zhang, this project underscores the significance of creating robots that are not just functional but also relatable and interactive.
After witnessing the lamp robot in action, it's evident that Apple's exploration into expressive robotics has the potential to revolutionise the way we interact with technology in our homes. With its charm and functionality, this Pixar-style lamp robot could pave the way for a new era of household robotics that are not only helpful but also endearing.
Apple's research team showcases a tabletop robot with expressive movements in a recent blog post.
The video features two lamp robots, one "Expressive" and the other "Functional," demonstrating the impact of human-like characteristics on user engagement.
Speculations suggest Apple is working on a smart display and a tabletop robot for home use, potentially integrating Siri and smart home features.
Source: THE VERGE