Furhat Robotics, a Stockhom-based startup, has been hard at work creating a next generation social robot that resembles a lifelike humanoid, according to New Atlas. The company is using projection technology and transferring a face onto the base of the device.
The system integrates the company’s custom conversational AI engine into a device that holds real-time visual tracking systems. A camera is connected to the robotic head, allowing it to communicate and tilt its head to maintain conversation and eye contact.
Currently, three different faces have been developed for the system, allowing for more customized faces. Currently, regular male and female faces can be used, but the company suggests that anything is possible from animals to Avatar characters.
“This is the culmination of many years of dedicated research and development both internally and through working with industry and technology partners,” says Furhat CEO, Samer Al Moubayed. “From its beginnings at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) we have taken Furhat to a point where social robots are no longer a hope for the future but a reality of today.”