MIT's Nexi bot wants to be your friend

MIT is really taking its robotics program to a whole new level with its "MDS" platform, which stands for Mobile, Dexterous and Social. The flagship bot so far is Nexi, who certainly fits the bill, albeit with an extra dab of creepy. The bot stands on a Segway-esque wheel base, has articulated arms and hands, and can convey a wide range of emotion with that pasty white face. Nexi has a computer on board to manage sensors and instinctual responses, while it offloads the heavy duty AI work to a stationary computer over the network. MIT's eventual goal is to have Nexi and others participate in Socially Situated Robot Learning -- observing and interacting with humans to figure out how best to integrate with them. Don't worry Nexi, we like you for you. Video is after the break.

[Via fresh creation]

[DDay @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:47AM]

Oh god that picture is creepy.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:07AM]

These things look like the stereotypical "prophets" that rule the robot kingdom which will overthrow humanity.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:12AM]

I saw something like this in DOOM 3

[aaron @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:47AM]

Looks like Christina Ricci in "The Addams Family".

[Blackstar @ Apr 3rd 2008 1:10PM]

Ok, what they need to do is point them both towards each other so they can play off each others reactions. I'll bet you within 20 minutes one of the robots beats the other into very tiny bits.

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 3rd 2008 1:28PM]

Yet its social prowess surpasses that of the average socially-awkward MIT nerd--wait a second, is that an accomplishment?

[highjumpman @ Apr 3rd 2008 1:34PM]

Those guys' (gals?) faces somehow remind me of the little sisters in Bioshock... And those were scary enough... Give them some hair MIT!

[dataminer49er @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:49AM]

MIT needs to make a bot that won't scare the living dayights out of you.

[SurKaz @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:47AM]

Required part of creating a robot.. has to seem like a harbinger of something darker.. and weirder.

[Todd @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:20PM]

They also need to create a bot that can actually speak as cleanly as this bot's narration. Creepy factor x3 if the "standard" emotionless computer generated voice were used.

[Blackstar @ Apr 3rd 2008 1:13PM]

Well as you can see by their faces, they can't understand what purpose a Sony Rolly™ has either.

[Fernando @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:49AM]

Ok those are really scary. I usually never say that about androids and all but those really are.

[Leo @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:44AM]

yeah seriously, if I met that in an alley, after about 5 seconds of it talking and doing "Facial shit", I'd be smacking the hell out of it with a metal pole of some description

[wrabbit @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:50AM]

That is sooo creepy... oh and they skipped the "happy" emotion - that thing can't smile to save its artificial life.

[Brian @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:51AM]

Please don't be mad.

[MisterFuhrman @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:54AM]

Scared. For. Life.

[rock99rock @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:53AM]

ZOMG SO SCARY.

.....

[Eric M. @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:55AM]

Nexi.. phone home?

[IT-Accountant @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:55AM]

Does anyone else find the large hole in the middle of the forehead just a little scary? Maybe I've just been watching too many zombie movies...

[Jeff @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:03AM]

Ahhhhh! No you can't be my friend!

[Tom @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:49AM]

That 3rd eye ... Bet that's where his laser sits. To either cut your skull in two or burn it's will real deep into your brain, whatever the situation requires.

Now bow down puny humans!

[blackfeather @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:06PM]

I thought maybe it was... Indian?

[K Maven @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:02AM]

The "mad" expression scared the shit out of me.

[Ivan @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:11AM]

They seem to have taken their cue from he robot in Daft Punk's Technologic video. http://youtube.com/watch?v=bPZJYQXQsm8

[Evan @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:24AM]

I was going to comment the exact same thing!

[danny @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:05AM]

Did anyone notice how it rolled in almost exactly like the clown-puppet-face-thing from the Saw movies?

[daedalus @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:06AM]

Nice (1U) rack

[Zeek @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:14AM]

I assume it has a mouth so it can roll up close to you and sigh loudly all day long.

[Zeek @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:14AM]

Or... tickle me emo!

[Stuart Dambrot @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:14AM]

Calling Dr. Who!

[bmiller @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:22AM]

That is kinda freaky that MIT gave it Terminator-like shoulder joints.....

[neolycan @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:16AM]

,,, Anthropomorphizing robots scares the shite out of me... Especially these in particular... if this is the world of tomorrow, I'm running the other way... tho... hm, posted 1st of April.. There is hope for us yet, until the day we end up "regarded as pets" by our creations as Clarke once said.. heh

[nikola @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:18AM]

DON'T make the mistake of bending with one of these in the room. Word on the street it will ram its fist straight up yer poop shoot. Still don't know why.

[Zeek @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:22AM]

Bjork was hotter as an iMac.

ok I'll stop now.

[Paul @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:36AM]

Wow... This is not as creepy as I thought when I saw the video...
It's pretty amazing... HONDA should watch out...

[frankXchange @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:25AM]

That is so cool. Interesting minimalist approach to the face. Makes you think about what visual cueing we use when we look at another human face. A few suggestions though:
1) Change the images in the PR stills/videos to something less dark and creepy/depressing.
2) It's probably not a good idea to have it roll up behind people silently.
3) Never let it handle cutlery or threatening-looking objects.
4) Keep the lights on while it's active.

[kal326 @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:29AM]

Kinda creepy, reminds me of some of the enemies from Doom3. Who needs a Martian base and a hellgate, give it a few more years and couple hundred more of these and we can play doom over at MIT.

[kal326 @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:38AM]

I wish my damn avatar would update.....

[Wwhat @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:35AM]

resubmit it, it's computers, they often fail.

[kal326 @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:50PM]

Seriously, what in the hell do I have to do to get an avatar up here? Anybody have and idea on size (file or pixel) or file type restrictions? I posted a 64x64 jpeg 3 times now and it refuses work. 5 minutes to update your posts my ass!

[Wwhat @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:26PM]

I had one fail too, I changed it a bit and resubmitted and it worked, go figure.
Same dimensions though

[Valgas @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:34AM]

I'm sorry, but I don't want those son of a bitch robots trying to be my friend. "Chopping Mall", West World and Terminator. No fucking thanks dude.

[farfisa @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:36AM]

Social. Demented and sad, but social.

[Stiv @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:46AM]

No one should ever program program robots to look or act mad. Ever.

Also, I'm kid of tired of seeing robots with fake eyes just to make them look more human. Can't they just put the camera where they fake eyes are? If I'm going to have to blind a robot attacker with spray paint, I at least want to know where to spray.

[marc mitchell @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:44AM]

Beautiful :)

[Hax Or @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:25PM]

You'd hit it?

[SurKaz @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:50AM]

Off topic- But..
Samurai Jack!..
Is back on Saturdays. Missed the first episode...

[SurKaz @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:51AM]

My comment was supposed to reply to Zeek...
Bad Comment!

[dillon @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:54AM]

I don't think It's creepy or scary.That is technology.Some vey intelligent people made that happen.To me,that is amazing!

[retro77 @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:06AM]

OMG thats freaky!