Scientists create a robot child capable of expressing six basic emotions

Nikola – who was built to replicate a small boy – has been put together by researchers at the RIKEN Guardian Robot Project and through the ‘muscles’ – controlled by 29 pneumatic actuators – he can display anger, disgust, fear, and other emotions so he can assimilate in “real-life situations”.

Wataru Sato, the lead researcher said: “Androids that can emotionally communicate with us will be useful in a wide range of real-life situations, such as caring for older people, and can promote human well-being."

However, due to the mechanics of the robot and not having ‘elastic skin’, some of the emotions – such as disgust – were harder for people to pick up in testing. Currently, the team is working to iron out Nikola’s design, such as giving him a body.

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