Robot Labs in Japan Study Human-Robot Interaction and Presence

Japanese robotics laboratories at ATR and Osaka University are conducting experiments on human-robot interaction, focusing on the 'presence effect' of androids. Researchers observe geminoids and telenoids to refine social behaviors and micro-movements. On April 11, 2010, Kokoro (a Sanrio subsidiary) unveiled Geminoid F in Tokyo, the latest android designed by Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro. The labs study how robots like Wakamaru (produced by Mitsubishi) and Actroids engage humans through programmed actions or teleoperation. The Robot Actors Project, directed by Oriza Hirata, uses theater as a research platform; Geminoid F performed in the play 'Sayonara.' The Uncanny Valley theory by Masahiro Mori (1970) informs these experiments, with Mori later placing Buddha's representation at the peak of the curve. Researchers aim to reduce the 'void effect' by planning micro-movements that enhance a calming presence. The work explores how androids challenge perceptions of life, consciousness, and self-representation.