Apple’s ELEGNT framework could make home robots feel less like machines and more like companions

Apple Researchers have developed a new framework For the manufacture of non -humanoid robots, move more naturally and expressively during interactions with people, potentially opening the way to more engaging robotic assistants in houses and workplaces.

Research, published this month on Arxiv, presents the design of expressive and functional movement Elegantwhich allows robots to transmit intentions, emotions and attitudes through their movements – rather than simply finishing functional tasks.

“For robots to interact more naturally with humans, the design of robots movement should integrate expressive qualities – such as intention, attention and emotions – as well as traditional functional considerations such as the development of tasks , spatial constraints and the efficiency of time ”, Apple’s robotic team researchers write in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing In their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their Writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their writing in their team of robotics of Apple. Research document.

How an office lamp has become the perfect test subject for robots emotions

The study focused on a lamp -shaped robot, recalling Pixar animation Luxo Jr. Character, equipped with a 6 -axis robotic arm and a head containing a light and a projector. The researchers programmed the robot with two types of movements: purely functional movements focused on carrying out more expressive tasks and movements designed to communicate the internal state of the robot.

In user tests with 21 participants, expressive movements have considerably improved people’s commitment and robot perception. This effect was particularly pronounced during social tasks such as playing music or engaging a conversation, although it had less impact for purely functional tasks such as lighting adjustment.

“Without playfulness, I could find this type of interaction with a boring robot rather than reception and commitment,” noted a study participant, stressing how expressive movements have made robot behavior potentially potentially more acceptable.

User tests reveal the age gap in robot movement preferences

Research comes as large technological companies are increasingly exploring domestic robotics. While most current domestic robots such as robots are focused only on function, this work suggests that adding more natural expressive movements could make future robots more attractive.

However, researchers note that the balance is crucial. “There must be a balance between commitment by movement and the completion of the speed of the task given, otherwise the human could become impatient,” observed a participant.

The study also revealed that older participants were significantly less receptive to the expressive movements of robots, which suggests that the behavior of robots may have to be personalized according to user preferences.

The future of social robotics: find the sweet spot between function and expression

Although Apple rarely discusses his research in robotics publicly, this work offers intriguing advice on how the technology giant could approach future domestic robots. The study suggests a fundamental change in the design of robotics: instead of focusing only on what robots can do, companies must consider how robots make people feel.

The upcoming challenge lies not only in the programming of robots to perform tasks, but also to make their presence welcome in our most intimate spaces. While robots pass from factory floors to salons, their success may depend less on raw efficiency and more on their ability to read the room – both literally and metaphorically.

Apple paper will be presented at 2025 Interactive systems design Conference in Madeira in July.

The results indicate a future where the design of the robot requires as much entry of animators and behavioral psychologists as of engineers.

As robots become more common in houses and workplaces, making them move in a way that feels natural rather than mechanical could make the difference between another forgotten gadget and a really essential companion. The real test will be whether companies like Apple can translate this product research information that people use not only, but really want to interact.