We must construct belief with humanoid robots, says skilled with odd plan

Engineers are teaching humanoid robots how to boogie.

Why? It’s all part of their strange plan to help humans and humanoid robots live in harmony.

As we come closer to humanoid robots becoming commonplace and joining the workforce, with Elon Musk claiming he will soon make one billion Optimus robots, it’s imperative humans and artificial intelligence build trust with each other.

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That’s why engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a humanoid robot that can shake its tail feather and is capable of learning simple dance routines. Maybe one day you’ll spot a robot doing the Floss.

Using a diverse range of human body motions, motion capture data and dance videos, the team taught the robot how to expressively move, and even trained the upper and lower body separately, so the robot can perform gestures with its arms while its legs work to hold it upright.

The academics believe the robot’s expressiveness and agility could improve how it relates to humans, in the factory, in hospitals, in homes and in other locations such as labs and disaster sites.

Leading researcher professor Xiaolong Wang said: “Through expressive and more human-like body motions, we aim to build trust and showcase the potential for robots to co-exist in harmony with humans.”

The project was recently presented at the 2024 Robotics: Science and Systems Conference in the Netherlands, and could be breakthrough in reshaping the public’s perception of robots, from intimidating to friendly, reports Fox.

The team have also taught the robot how to hug, give high five and maintain its balance on uneven surfaces.

At the moment, the robot’s movements are controlled by a human operator using a controller which determines speed, direction and specific motions.

Researchers aim for future versions to have a camera, enabling robots to perform and navigate surfaces autonomously, and are currently finessing the robot’s ability to carry out intricate tasks by expanding the robot’s motions and gestures.

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