This robot may look like a heap of electronic parts with eyes, but if you were standing face-to-face with it, it might seem downright human—even likable.
The machine can sense when someone is trying to engage with it, turn to face that person, and even look at her or him in a lifelike way. What makes it seem so natural? The robot has been programmed to make subtle movements—including blinking, moving its eyes, and tilting its head—to create a humanlike gaze. It even looks away if a noise distracts it! The robot’s chest also gently rises and falls to make it look like it’s breathing.
Disney Research developed the machine in an effort to enhance the audio-