Japanese engineers from Osaka University have developed a new robot that attempts to mimic the actions and emotions of a human baby. It’s called the Affetto robot, and it is modeled after a two-year old baby. Judging from the video above, you will see that it is capable of making realistic facial expressions similar to that of a real baby.
Apparently the project is a part of the team’s study on Cognitive Developmental Robotics, which aims to understand the development of human intelligence through robots. The Affetto robot will also be used in the study of human social development, particularly in the early stages of childhood. The engineers are hoping that the Affetto robot will improve the interaction between babies and caregivers. There have been attemps in the past, but apparently the lack of a more realistic robot thwarted progress and interaction.
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