The World's Most Advanced Social Robot is Here and You Can Choose its Face
Stockholm-based startup Furhat Robotics claims it has been developing the next generation of social robots. How? By offering a realistically and hopefully relatable lifelike humanoid interface.
To do this the firm is using projection technology to showcase a face onto a moveable base shaped like a human head. The social robot is reminiscent of a wig's resting base only it actually talks and interacts.
That is because the Furhat system combines the company's custom-developed conversational AI engine and a real-time visual tracking system. Using a camera, Furhat's social robot tracks whoever it is communicating with and moves its head with three degrees of freedom, in order to maintain eye contact.
And that's not all. Furhat offers three face masks for clients to choose from that include options ranging from human to animal.
The firm has called their new invention Furhat. "Furhat is a social robot that communicates with us humans as we do with each other - by speaking, listening, showing emotions and maintaining eye contact. It can serve customers, provide companionship, train employees or teach a language," says the firm's video description.
"The only limit is your own imagination. If you are an entrepreneur, developer, designer or researcher, the time to build apps for social robots is now," it adds. Cool or creepy? Watch the video and decide for yourself.
Via: Furhat Robotics