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“Mask-Bot 2i”: An active customisable robotic head with interchangeable face | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

“Mask-Bot 2i”: An active customisable robotic head with interchangeable face


Abstract:

This paper describes the development of “Mask-Bot 2i” (codenamed: Kabuto), a robotic head designed for research into Human-Robot-Interactions. The uniqueness of our new r...Show More

Abstract:

This paper describes the development of “Mask-Bot 2i” (codenamed: Kabuto), a robotic head designed for research into Human-Robot-Interactions. The uniqueness of our new robotic head is that the appearance of its face can be alter on-the-fly. Different faces can be projected onto the active head system. The head is fully active with a 3-DOF neck, with support for biannual hearing as well as video camera for seeing. An interchangeable face is the main feature of this new Mask-Bot, the head can be equipped with an average face mask as well as a highly customised individualised face that can be easily exchanged. Additionally, the actuation of the head has been designed to match the natural head movements of an average human. Thus, enabling the head and face to be articulated synchronously to the speech production while the natural head movement matches that of the animated face. The design and realisation of this new system is presented in details in this paper.
Date of Conference: 29 November 2012 - 01 December 2012
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 07 November 2013
Electronic ISBN:978-1-4673-1369-8

ISSN Information:

Conference Location: Osaka, Japan

I. Introduction

During the last decades numerous humanoid robotic systems have come to be. One element that is consistent among them all is the fact they are all equipped with a head. As from the practical point of view, it is the most logical place to mount the visual and the auditory systems. But one might say that it is also an important part of human-robot interaction (HRI), especially for face-to-face communication, as the head provides a natural means of human interaction with a robot. This leads to the question, “what elements are important in the design of a robotic head for HRI?”. For instance, we have studied how the quality of the projected image effects people's identification of the avatar's gender with the original “Mask-Bot” [1]. For interaction, the head should be able to communicate using auditory (verbal and non-verbal) as well as visual communication. But what about its appearance? To explore this question, we developed a robotic head that can be used to carry out research into how the appearance of an animated face displayed onto a robotic head effects HRI.

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References

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