Humanoid Robot Given Expressive Face

Posted on July 11, 2012

Researchers have developed an animation engine that helps give realistic looking facial expressions to a humanoid robot. New Scientist reports that Nicole Lazzeri at the University of Pisa, Italy, and her colleagues, designed the Hybrid Engine for Facial Expressions Synthesis (HEFES). HEFES is a facial animation program designed to mimic realistic expressions. The humanoid robot at the University of Pisa is called FACE. It is modeled after one of the research team member's wives. Motors underneath FACE's polymer skin create movement that replicates human expressions, including amazement, disgust, sadness, fear and more. Take a look:

ROBOTS