Cornell University researchers
have developed a prototype of a robot that can express emotions through changes
in its outer surface. The robot's skin covers a grid of texture units whose
shapes change based on the robot's feelings. Their design features an array of
two shapes, goosebumps and spikes, which map to different emotional states.
The actuation units for both
shapes are integrated into texture modules, with fluidic chambers connecting
bumps of the same kind. The team tried two different actuation control systems,
with minimizing size and noise level a driving factor in both designs. Future
challenges include scaling the technology to fit into a self-contained robot.
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