Design of humanoid robot for human-robot interaction - Waseda Robots: Wendy and Wamoeba -

The development of humanoid robots that can support human labor and assist human daily activities by several combined communication channels, such as physical interaction and informational interaction, is expected to be a measure against labor shortages in aging societies. Such robots are distinctively called "human symbiotic robots". In designing of the human symbiotic robots, capabilities of ensuring safety and friendliness while interacting with human must be given top priority. Under this concept, the Humanoid Robot Project at the Advanced Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University has developed Wendy and Wamoeba as prototypes of human symbiotic robots. Wendy is an anthropomorphic type robot. Since human symbiotic robots must work in human's living space and manipulate things which are designed suitably for human usage, their design should be similar human body shape. On the other hand, Wamoeba is a trial model for the research which investigates for the possibility of the emergence of mind in the artificial mechanical system based on the model of the emergence process of human mind which should be the ultimate function for friendly communication