In the past year, there have been a flurry of robotics companies announcing their latest humanoid robot advancements. It seems like finally, after decades of promise, the reality of a humanoid robot helper in your home could be coming soon.
Now for many, this is a no-go. The idea of trusting a robot with household tasks, or child interaction is a creepy idea that they want no part in. For others, the idea of offloading chores and tasks to a robot sounds like the future they were promised, and they’re all in.
Either way, as these technologies advance, have we determined what their faces or bodies should look like? In order to have them embody trust, safety, and usefulness, is there a standard for robots to achieve?
In our opinion, humanoid robots should strike a delicate balance between familiarity and novelty. They should feel approachable without being unnervingly lifelike, as mimicking human appearance too closely can trigger the “uncanny valley” effect—a phenomenon where robots that look almost human, but not quite, can cause discomfort or fear.
A safe approach is to imbue them with human-like characteristics, such as a friendly face or a warm gaze, but in a stylized and simplified manner that feels distinctly non-human.
Think of soft, rounded facial features, expressive but simple eyes, and a smile that doesn’t attempt to mimic human muscles but instead conveys warmth through subtle, animated expressions. Designers can draw inspiration from animated characters like Wall-E or Baymax, who embody human emotions without appearing unnaturally human.
Recently, Nvidia announced their “Project GROOT” platform, which includes foundational models for robots to adhere to. Their CEO appeared onstage with many of the current incarnations of humanoid robots from various manufacturers.
Fuseproject, a design studio led by Yves Behar has recently come out with a robot design, part of what they call their Kind Humanoid system.
It features a bronze, sculpted body and a unique head shape, with a curved screen face that projects calm and friendly personas onto it. Their hope is to create a humanoid with a sense of trust and even humor that can allow for better interaction between human and robot.
Indeed, it features a sense of surrealism in its design, which breaks down the harsh mechanical paradigm for something more relatable.
“A robot that has sort of a sense of personality and levity in the sense that it doesn’t jolt our senses. A robot that gives a sense of approachability and familiarity – and maybe even a sense of humor.”
-Yves Behar, head of Fuseproject, and their Kind Humanoid.
Here’s hoping the discussion around humanoid robots continues in a positive, hopeful, and friendly manner, so that when a robot does show up at your door, it feels like something out of optimistic science fiction, not apocalyptic or terrifying.
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