Androids, or robots with humanlike features, are often more appealing to people than those that resemble machines—but only up to a certain point. Many people experience an uneasy feeling in response to robots that are nearly lifelike, and yet somehow not quite "right." The feeling of affinity can plunge into one of repulsion as a robot's human likeness increases, a zone known as "the uncanny valley." The journal  Perception  published new insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying this phenomenon made by psychologists at Emory University. Since the uncanny valley was first described, a common hypothesis developed to explain it. Known as the mind-perception theory, it proposes that when people see a  robot  with human-like features, they automatically add a mind to it. A growing sense that a machine appears to have a mind leads to the creepy feeling, according to this theory. "We found that the opposite is true," says Wang Shensheng, first auth...

  RoboCut is also able to carve hearts.  How do you calculate the coordinated movements of two robot arms so they can accurately guide a highly flexible tool? ETH researchers have integrated all aspects of the optimisation calculations into an algorithm. A hot-wire cutter will be used, among other things, to develop building blocks for a mortar-free structure. A newborn moves its arms and hands largely in an undirected and random manner. It has to learn how to coordinate them step by step. Years of practice are required to master the finely balanced movements of a violinist or calligrapher. It is therefore no surprise that the advanced calculations for the optimal movement of two robot arms to guide a tool precisely involve extremely challenging optimisation tasks. The complexity also increases greatly when the tool itself is not rigid, but flexible in all directions and bends differently depending on its position and movement. Simon Dünser from Stelian Coros' research group a...

  E lectronic skins that perform the same sensory functions as human skin could mean big things for the fields of robotics and medical devices, and scientists are not solely focused on just the pleasant ones. Researchers in Australia have succeeded in developing an artificial skin that responds to painful stimuli in the same way real skin does, which they see as an important step towards intelligent machines and prosthetics. It mightn’t seem like the most practical of goals, but researchers have been working to develop electronic skins that allow robots and prostheses to feel pain for quite some time. These technologies could enable amputees to know if they are  picking up something sharp or dangerous , for example, or could make  robots more durable and safer for humans to be around . The researchers behind the latest breakthrough, from Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, believe they have created a first of-a-kind device that can replicate the feedback ...

  Humanoid robots, those with bodies that resemble humans, could soon help people to complete a wide variety of tasks. Many of the tasks that these robots are designed to complete involve picking up objects of different shapes, weights and sizes. While many humanoid robots developed up to date are capable of picking up small and light objects, lifting bulky or heavy objects has often proved to be more challenging. In fact, if an  object  is too large or heavy, a robot might end up breaking or dropping it. With this in mind, researchers at Johns Hopkins University and National University of Singapore (NUS) recently developed a technique that allows robots to determine whether or not they will be able to lift a heavy box with unknown physical properties. This technique, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, could enable the development of robots that can lift objects more efficiently, reducing the risk that they will pick up things that they cannot support or carry. ...

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing quickly as an unbelievably amazing innovation with apparently limitless application. It has shown its capacity to automate routine tasks, for example, our everyday drive, while likewise augmenting human capacity with new insight. Consolidating human imagination and creativity with the adaptability of machine learning is propelling our insight base and comprehension at a remarkable pace. However, with extraordinary power comes great responsibility. In particular, AI raises worries on numerous fronts because of its possibly disruptive effect. These apprehensions incorporate workforce uprooting, loss of protection, potential biases in decision-making and lack of control over automated systems and robots. While these issues are noteworthy, they are likewise addressable with the correct planning, oversight, and governance. Numerous  artificial intelligence systems  that will come into contact with people should see how people behave...

  How Is Artificial Intelligence Used in Analytics? Analytics powers your marketing program, but how much value are you really getting out of your data? Artificial intelligence can help. AI is a collection of technologies that excel at extracting insights and patterns from large sets of data, then making predictions based on that information. That includes your analytics data from places like Google Analytics, automation platforms, content management systems, CRMs, and more. In fact, AI exists today that can help you get much more value out of the data you already have, unify that data, and actually make predictions about customer behaviors based on it. That sounds great. But how do you actually get started? This article is here to help you take your first step. At Marketing AI Institute, we’ve spent years researching and applying AI. Since 2016, we've published more than 400 articles on the subject. And we've published stories on 50+ AI-powered vendors with more than $1 billio...