Stress-Sensing Roomba Hides Under Bed When It Thinks You Might Kick It
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Monday, 16 of March , 2009 at 3:37 am
One way that robots might be able to more effectively interact with humans is by analyzing how we’re feeling, and acting accordingly. Researchers at the University of Calgary modified a Roomba to receive signals from a biolelectric sensor headband that can measure stress. If the Roomba sensed a certain amount of stress, it was programmed to clean further away from the user. If it senses more stress, it might stop cleaning completely, or start “cowering under the bed if a user is feeling angry and looking for something to kick.” This sort of technology works the other way, too… For example, a robot like Paro might get more snuggly if it senses you’re upset.
Wearing a headband studded with sensors probably isn’t the most convenient way to communicate your stress levels, even if it is nice and quantitative. Pretty soon, though, robots are going to end up doing it like we do: searching for cues in our vocal patterns and facial expressions.
Read the paper here (*.pdf).
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Category: Artificial Intelligence,Consumer
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