In August 2021, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla made an entrance by presenting “Optimus,” a prototype humanoid robot that captivated the publics attention with its dancing abilities. Although this announcement was met with some skepticism and raised eyebrows Tesla is not the company striving to create robots, in human shapes. Research labs and innovative companies worldwide are investing resources into developing these robots envisioning their use in fields such as warehouses and nursing homes. The idea behind this pursuit is compelling; the familiar human form seamlessly integrates into our existing infrastructure making it relatable.. Does adopting the shape truly hold the key to establishing a harmonious relationship between humans and robots?
The Quest for Humanoids
Humanoids are often considered the pinnacle of robotics—an embodiment of robots featuring a torso, two legs, two arms and a head. A quick Google image search, for “robot” will flood your screen with images of robots. Their creators argue that these autonomous machines should resemble humans in order to foster an connection. This reasoning makes sense since we tend to empathize more with machines that bear resemblance to us. However it may be oversimplifying an issue to assume that the human shape alone guarantees relatability.
Humanoids have long been regarded as the ‘holy grail’ of robotics but there’s room for a lot more diversity in design
A Case for Non-Humanoid Relatability
It’s fascinating how many people develop a connection with their vacuum cleaners often giving them names.. Would our fondness for these machines increase if they were humanoid robots strolling around our homes? Probably not. When a robot takes on a appearance we naturally have higher expectations of its intelligence and capabilities. Unfortunately current technology falls short of meeting these expectations. Its unlikely that we’ll have robot butlers at our disposal anytime soon.
The Power of Mimicking Familiar Cues
to the belief that humanoid robots are the epitome of relatability they don’t need to have human like shapes to establish a connection with us. What truly matters is their ability to mimic cues that we can recognize and resonate with. Artists and animators have mastered the art of capturing expressions and gestures. Translating them onto various non human forms. Just think about characters like Bambi, Cars or even the iconic Pixar lamp; none of them resemble humans. They evoke deep emotions and forge meaningful connections.
The Mascot Effect
On a note lets consider the impact of mascots like Kumamon—a bear character created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture, in Japan as a means to promote tourism.
Many Star Wars enthusiasts have an admiration, for R2 D2, which’s essentially a wheeled tin can even more than they do for many human like characters. These non humanoid characters demonstrate that relatability goes beyond the confines of the form.
Avoiding Biases and Stereotypes
By avoiding biases and stereotypes steering of designing robots that resemble humans not helps manage expectations but also avoids potential social injustices. Research conducted by the University of Bielefeld in Germany has shown that people tend to categorize robots based on characteristics like hair length. For example a humanoid robot with hair is often seen as suitable for stereotypical female tasks while one with short hair is deemed better suited for technical repairs. This highlights how technology designed to mimic humans can inadvertently perpetuate harmful biases and stereotypes.
Logistics and Beyond
Although the practicality of navigating spaces built for humans often serves as an argument in favor of robots it’s worth considering solutions as we envision the future of robotics.
Robots come in an array of shapes and sizes. They can be incredibly small, barely visible, to the eye or massive enough to dwarf houses.
Robots come in structures ranging from metals, to softer materials. They can move in ways, such as rolling, climbing, slithering, jumping or even oozing from one point to another. According to Dr. Robin Murphy, a roboticist from Texas A&M University, the effective robot form is simply the one that gets the job done.
Creating an Inclusive World
To promote inclusivity and accessibility in our world Dr. Laurel Riek from the University of California suggests focusing resources on making our infrastructure more wheelchair friendly and accommodating for walkers and prams. By creating spaces that cater to a range of individuals we not improve accessibility but also foster the development of versatile robots with greater efficiency.
The Way Forward
While humanoid robots may have their applications in fields it’s important to think beyond replicating form. As robots move beyond factory floors and into shared spaces the field of robotics encourages us to explore solutions that break away, from convention. It urges us to envision robots that go beyond mimicking our appearance and instead utilize cues. By doing we can create an inclusive and accessible world that benefits both humans and robots.
In this age of robotics our potential is boundless, limited by the boundaries of our imagination. It’s time we allow our inventive ideas to pave the path forward.
