Researchers develop 'robot with feelings'

As a part of a study attempting to understand how long-term relationships may be forged between humans and androids, researchers have designed a Emotional Robot with Intelligent Network, a ERWIN, with feelings.

According to researchers at the University of Lincoln, these durable relationships could be important in cases where a robot operates as a personal aid or companion, for example when providing care for the elderly or support for people with autism, the Independent reported.

The 'friendly robot', which is now being used in a new study carried out by PhD student Mriganka Biswas, has been developed by Dr John Murray, from the School of Computer Science at Lincoln.

Biswas said when two people interact for the first time, if the two different personalities attract each other, a relationship forms. But, in the case of conventional human-robot interaction, after gathering information about the robot, the robot's lack of identifiable characteristics and personality prevents any relationship bond developing.

The key obstacle in forming a bond with a robot may lie in our flawed human thought processes, which includes certain illogical patterns of thought, or cognitive biases.

Robots and computers, on the other hand, generally operate according to rational rules, which make them seem very far removed from us.

According to video demonstrating the working of the robot, ERWIN can express five basic emotions whilst interacting with humans.

Alongside ERWIN, the researchers will be looking at the responses people have to another robot, named Keepon. It is non-emotive, but is humanoid in appearance.