Lovotics, the new science of human-robot love

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Lovotics, the new science of human-robot love

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A researcher at a Singaporean University is trying to develop a robot that may love like a human.

27 July,2011 07:22 am

For Hooman Samani, its a labour of love. Samani and his team of researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a robot named Lovotics, a machine designed to imitate the human ability to love.The robot resembles a mound of white fur and when its falling in love it gets close and flashes different colours. Samani says he based the robots programming on the interactions between two people in love.Those people who are dating, if they are interested, they try to mirror each others behaviour, from movements of the bodies, to gestures, everything. So this robot is also trying to do that to increase the probability of love, said Sanami, a robotics researcher at the National University of Singapore.Lovotics is fitted with built-in microphones, cameras and other sensors allowing it to recognise its user and hopefully build a long term relationship.Sanami says there is still a long way to go before his robot is perfected. He took Lovotics to a local eatery to see if the furry robot could find some love. Unfortunately love at first sight was no where to be found.I think it will be more interesting if it has more colours, it will make it more attractive and it seems that now it doesnt have any eyes, only a nose. If there are more features it will help to interact with people better, said 33-year-old June Loh.I think the concept is pretty good, as in a robot that can love, added 29-year-old Ruwei Chua.Samani says it was a tough but important lesson for his robot. Sometimes love hurts.