Robotics Technology Center

Emotional Robot FEELIX Has Empathy

A robot that can distinguish human emotions was developed by the European Feelix Growing project. The overall aim of this project is the interdisciplinary investigation of socially situated development from a global or integrated viewpoint.

It is said that robots are incorporated in human’s everyday environment for them to give services such as entertainment, caregiving and company. Thus, it is anticipated that robots will be made to adapt to human behavior. Or else, the varied human environments will require an endless reprogramming of the robots.

The Feelix Growing project tries to give a solution to this problem by making a robot that could sympathize and understand human feelings.

The project uses software that gives the robots the power to comprehend how or what a person is feeling based on feedback from sensors and cameras. Artificial neural networks are used in order to give the robot learning capabilities. The robot can identify the subject’s mood by looking at a human’s facial expression and voice analysis.

“It's mostly behavioral and contact feedback; tactile feedback and emotional feedback through positive reinforcement, such as kind words, nice behavior or helping the robot do something if it is stuck,” explained project coordinator, Dr Lola Canamero.

Click here to read more about Emotional Robot Feelix, European Feelix Growing Project