‘It’s Really Realistic’: Can You Believe the Facial Expressions Made by This Robot?
- Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:00am by
Liz Klimas
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Robots are cool…and can be creepy. According to New Scientist, when it comes to making a “humanoid” robot there is such a thing as the “uncanny valley principle,” which is when the robot looks like a human but not realistic enough.
(Related: Could This Robot That Reads Soon Be Your Restaurant Hostess?)
Researchers are trying to combat the feelings of unease that may come from seeing extremely life-like robots by making them more attractive and with realistic facial expressions.
Enter FACE. A humanoid robot developed by Nicole Lazzeri and colleagues at the University of Pisa in Italy. Here’s more from New Scientist on how the researches created the realistic expressions:
To mimic the myriad expressions that facial muscles are capable of achieving, the team placed 32 motors around FACE’s skull and upper torso that manipulate its polymer skin in the same way that real muscles do.
To create expressions they used a combination of motor movements based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) – a system created over 30 years ago which codes facial expressions in terms of anatomic muscle movements.
This, in combination with Hybrid Engine for Facial Expressions Synthesis, allows for an algorithm to work out the expression — even a combination of expressions — to be exhibited by FACE. Using 15 autistic and non-autistic children to evaluate the success of the program, the team found that emotions like happiness and anger were easy to identify but disgust and surprise were harder.
(Related: It’s Alive! Humanoid Robot Awakens in Space)
Check out the simulation for yourself:
“It’s really realistic,” New Scientist reported Lazzeri saying.
What did you think? Realistic? At all creepy?
Also, just in case you’re wondering if FACE was inspired by the looks of any real human person. She was — one of the team member’s wife.
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Comments (95)
countryfirst
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:41amPut in the Obama code so we could see the expression of despair , I am sure it will be receiving some sort of government assistance soon since it cannot really think for itself.
Report Post »scootervanneuter
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:47amOh God, that’s funny
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:31pmHer name must be Julia.
Report Post »DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:47pmShe certainly looks like a Democrat. If she was unemployed and a drug problem, we’d know for sure.
Report Post »wdittgasn
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:47pmWatch out, they will have these robots voting for Bammy soon.
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:27pmBlow-up dolls have come a long ways. Nice too see, there is someone for everyone, including JZS and SIMPLETRUTHS, and all the others who spout their nonsense here!
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:32pmSIMPLETRUTHS will tell his girl something profound, and when she gives that look of amazement, he can’t wait too share it with all of us! JZS is in for dirty 2nds.
Report Post »Ramrod64
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:53pmenter vote democrap!!!
Report Post »Rampart
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 2:27amShe’s a man, baby…!
Report Post »BryanB
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 4:15pmIt’s just creepy………
Report Post »uptickusa
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:36amA robot is nothing but a bunch of artificial material crafted together-just like a computer cannot think feel emotions etc.-A human is God’s miracle -A robot is God’s creation who creates a facinating object.
Report Post »Credo to man -Glory to GOD-AMEN
lukerw
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:05pmIf we are made in God’s Image… and we make Androids in our Image… then the Image is alike!
Report Post »shilellagh
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 1:29pmThe image of God that we are made in is in our capacity to love and to be loved, that is how we can be truly like him, no creation of man will ever come close to being able to do that.
Report Post »HoratiusAtTheBridge
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 11:03pm:49 to :53 seconds is especially disturbing. My “uncanny valley” is becoming more of an uncanny dip in the road. They are getting there. This still looks a bit slow & programmed rather than spontaneous as is real life. Not to worry – the monkeys in lab coats are furiously yanking & prying on those doorknobs, regardless of any big warning signs. Combine these robots with recent stories about what (SUPPOSEDLY) will control them – artificial intelligence. I think (no pun intended) that IBM says something like five years & we’ll see true spontaneous & original artificial intelligence. What will ‘bot bodies be like by then? Eventually, will one make that same expression when “they” & WHATEVER is really controlling them take a look at their creators. Unlike US, when we ponder mighty G*g – they won’t see us in the same light. Seriously – we legally allow the killing of our unborn. Goosebumps. Sorry, but there’s too many stories of demonic possession in all cultures. Fallen angels are real & they can get into people. Not those spiritually up-armored as are those with the Holy Spirit, but many others are out there. Some seek these dark subjects out of curiousity – the other monkeys yanking on doorknobs. Others are oblivious & spiritually lost – ripe for influence or outright invasion. Now what if one of these dark things looks about & sees these new, empty homes being powered up? Lyrics from “On Earth” by Samael -Dancing with a hidden tribe / Learning to move and fly… BRRR
Report Post »Nasado
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:29amAh humanity…. the only species who are activly seeking to make itself irrelevent.
Report Post »Leader1776
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:24amCan robots use too much botox?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:34pmNo kidding, Nacy Pelosi may be a robot! This could explain a lot!
Report Post »JinOH
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:43amLooks like the spawn of Pelosi.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:41amThis roboface is right in the bottom of the uncanny valley.
Report Post »Redwood Elf
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:25pmTrue, but so are some “real” people like Nancy Pelosi and Frances Fox Piven.
Report Post »Listen_then_think
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:37amToo bad they used a roided up linebacker jaw and parrot nose for that thing. Looks like a tranny to me.
Report Post »wkw58
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:19amThat thing has more personality than 99% of the ******** that I know.
Report Post »Leader1776
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:23amYou gotta get a new group of friends ;-)
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:10amWhen robots become the preferred worker/citizen your grandchildren will not think its cool!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:37amThe end product of Evolution… will consider itself the Ultimate Plan of God… and destroy the inferior!
Report Post »this1can
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 4:36amthat’s ok they can get food stamps. Love/Pray
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:06amWhat struck me as the strangest was that there was no example of laughter, or smiling or happiness.
Report Post »SLOWBIDEN
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:10amAww. Then you won‘t get a chance to try destroy it’s happiness with your atheist rhetoric.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:27amThose emotions require less facial muscles and effort. She/It’s an ugly mess, regardless of the perceived emotion.
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:45pm@ slowbiden
“Aww. Then you won‘t get a chance to try destroy it’s happiness with your atheist rhetoric.”
What in hell are you yammering about? What makes you want to toss the label ‘atheist’ out there at me?
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:04amObviously this robot has been reading about Obama on The Blaze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:30amLmao. Nice one.
Report Post »JeffJ1985
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:01amLook up “Uncanny Valley” on Wikipedia. That’s what this is. Creepy.
Report Post »scootervanneuter
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:46amDefinitely uncanny valley personified.
This is what happens when humans decide to duplicate God’s handiwork – one moronic mess
Report Post »BIgWheeler
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:00amDisgust. fear, and amazement… yeah that pretty much sums it all up.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:10amAnd fear and amazement looks exactly the same.
Report Post »Jayms
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:59amWhat’s with the music? Just muting the video dials down the creepiness about 5000%. It‘s like they’re TRYING to give us nightmares.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:46amI believe the term is “Fugly”…
Report Post »RETIREDUSAFDEFENDER
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 3:49pmYep!
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:44am…
Report Post »Creepy and hideous.
nelbert
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:30amAs convincing as the Abe Lincoln animatronic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF0j69pAM7g
Report Post »IAMINFIDEL
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:56amI think it’s great!
Report Post »BobtheMoron
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:40amHOAX! A real woman making faces on a slo-mo camera, You people are almost as slow as the camera.
Report Post »Infidelephant
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:59am…way to live up to your name there, Bob…
Report Post »contkmi
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:33amCreepy. Just plain creepy.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:42amAgreed. They have a long way to go to make robots, or even CG pictures
Report Post »look completely real. There is always something weird about them.
9111315
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:29amGrant money at work.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:16am‘O brave new world with all its wonders…’
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:13amThey are going in the WRONG DIRECTION: forget More Human… make them alike CHOBITS! At least the Japanese understand!
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:19pmI wish there was a Like or +1 command on the Blaze. It is sorely needed for this kind of thinking.
Report Post »infidelsaplenty
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:06amForgive me, but she looks like a young Nancy Pelosi, so I’d have to give it a creepy rating.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:21am.
Report Post »I wanna meet the guy or gal who makes it make an “O” Face…..
khandahar&jalalabad
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:56amPlenty of gals make that face at occupy wall street.
Report Post »