Meet the Child Robot, Affetto, Who Can Make Realistic Facial Expressions

A team of researchers from Osaka University, Japan created a child robot back in 2011. In the course of time, the robot has been modified, and now, the researchers aim to make it more expressive and advanced.

Three members, namely Prof. Minoru Asada, Hisashi Ishihara, and Yuichiro Yoshikawa from Osaka University created Affetto. Designed to evaluate the early stages of social development in human beings, the robot has the capability to mimic human emotions. It is the Android’s first-generation model robot. Many people have found the robot creepy because it scrunches up its nose, smile and even close its eyes and starts frowning.  The robot can give nightmares to people.

The robot was more frightening in 2011 than now, when it was last seen in action. Till date, the researchers have added some skin and hair to Affetto.

Currently, the researchers have developed new techniques and methods to identify and quantitatively evaluate facial movements on the robots head. To make the robot’s second-generation more advanced and expressive, the researchers have created a new system. The system is exclusively created to make the robot more expressive, where it can carry out deeper interactions with humans.

A total of 116 facial points were observed and studied in the robot’s face. By that, the researchers could measure its Three-dimensional movements. They underpinned the facial points by so-called deformation units. The deformation units were embedded with a new set of mechanism loaded with unique facial contortion like lowering or raising of part of a lip or eyelid.

Affetto’s second-generation will be more realistic than ever.