Einstein robot learns to smile, teaches us how to feel

By now, you're no doubt well acquainted with the Albert Hubo Einstein robot developed by the mad scientists at KAIST, but some researchers at the University of California, San Diego has also been working on their own Einstein bot for the past little while, and they've now managed to teach it some new tricks. While the bot has previously been able to display a full range of expressions through some pre-programmed facial movements, it's now able to teach itself how to smile or display other emotions thanks to a new trial-and-error technique dubbed "body babble." That apparently works by comparing Einstein's attempts at an expression with some facial recognition software, which provides Al with some positive feedback each time he manages an actual expression. Did we mention there's a video? Check it out after the break.

[Via Switched]

Update: The folks at UC, San Diego have kindly pointed us towards a bit more background on their Einstein robot, including a video of its pre-self-teaching days, and a couple of behind-the-scenes pics. Head on past the break for one we like to call "Einstein: Behind the Face."

[rainygrass @ Jul 10th 2009 8:39PM]

WTF...Dr.Einstein will come back & hunt this guy down

[Quantumphysics @ Jul 10th 2009 8:49PM]

If he'd lived a bit longer, he probably could have invented time travel.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jul 10th 2009 9:16PM]

Einstein had crazy hair. That hair looks more like that of the late Bea Arthur.

[Ariel @ Jul 10th 2009 10:19PM]

Einstein did NOT normally have crazy hair. It's just in like that in one or two famous photographs.... This robot is closer to reality than one would be with crazy hair.

[Danneh @ Jul 11th 2009 5:50AM]

That last picture looks like a good FFFFUUUUU candidate.

[Freakin Ijit @ Jul 11th 2009 6:16AM]

> ...Dr.Einstein will come back & hunt this guy down

Or Mark Twain.

[Adam @ Jul 11th 2009 4:41PM]

@Smart People Play Tuba

Do a mild amount of research buddy, there literally about 50 well known pictures in which Einstein had some pretty crazy hair, and maybe 5 where he had "normal" hair. It's not unreasonable for someone to assume his hair was "crazy" all the time.

[Nikesh @ Jul 12th 2009 6:04PM]

That first pic looks a little like Ron Jeremy. Not really the hair, but the mouth and eyes.

[MeanSpyvie @ Jul 10th 2009 8:42PM]

Why does this Einstien look like Helen Hunt?

[Hitman @ Jul 10th 2009 8:51PM]

I know. It seems like he's wearing a bra!

[DC @ Jul 10th 2009 11:25PM]

Why does MeanSpyvie use as his icon an image of a man who shot a police officer in cold blood in front of the officer's 12-year-old nephew?

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ Jul 10th 2009 11:55PM]

More like Mrs Doubtfire.

[guyniraxn @ Jul 11th 2009 1:44AM]

I was thinking Phyllis Diller

[MeanSpyvie @ Jul 11th 2009 3:50AM]

@DC

That's the FBI sketch of the Unabomber, while he most certainly was a criminal he never shot anybody and no law enforcement officers were among his victims. He (Ted Kaczynski) also didn't look anything like this sketch.

I've tried to change the avatar several times but the site doesn't seem to accept the new one. I can and have changed my name but the pic stays the same.

Get over it old man.

[B_Lizzard @ Jul 11th 2009 8:04AM]

@DC

That's a promo picture of "Weird Al" Yankovic for the "Eat It" tour.

I have no idea how you could've mistaken him for a killer person.

[Galactor963 @ Jul 11th 2009 11:56AM]

@B_Lizzard: I wish I could upvote this twice.

[unzarjones @ Jul 11th 2009 12:27PM]

Why does Mean Spyvie look like Greta Garbo? What is a spyvie? If he doesn't want to be seen, why does he keep coming out? Why does he call DC old man? Is DC, Spyvie's old man? That would explain the disguise.

[NoobSlayer @ Jul 10th 2009 8:43PM]

that looks like an old lady with a mustache. i'd hit it, why not - at least its some gummy.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jul 10th 2009 9:17PM]

I kinda want to +1 that, but I'm afraid I might go to hell.

[-Tj- @ Jul 10th 2009 9:19PM]

I think I threw up a little in my mouth...

[JPC @ Jul 10th 2009 8:45PM]

well this screams uncanny valley...kinda freaky.

[yokel @ Jul 10th 2009 8:47PM]

Team America anyone?

[Skorn @ Jul 11th 2009 5:19PM]

That's what I thought!

[Seoul Brother @ Jul 10th 2009 8:48PM]

Why is Einstein wearing eyeliner?

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 10th 2009 9:06PM]

Because that is just how he rolls! The secret life of Einstein....eyeliner and bras in the evenings!

[Gad Get @ Jul 10th 2009 9:08PM]

My question is, how did they screw up so bad with Einstein's trademark: his hair?

[Kali4 @ Jul 13th 2009 12:18PM]

That's funny, I thought his trademark was E=MC^2

[Amun @ Jul 10th 2009 8:52PM]

Great, another terrifying cyborg to join the hunt for manflesh.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jul 10th 2009 8:53PM]

Scary...

[nbb359 @ Jul 10th 2009 9:04PM]

This is starting to seriously damage my calm...

[Gad Get @ Jul 10th 2009 9:05PM]

Jayne!

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 10th 2009 9:04PM]

That is the scariest robot I've ever seen. Einstein is BACK! With a vengeance! E = MC Pain BEECH!!!!

[josh @ Jul 11th 2009 10:19AM]

No, silly.

E = MC Vagina.

[rsm @ Jul 10th 2009 9:05PM]

Terminator model: T_E=mc2.

[ACEY RIOT @ Jul 10th 2009 9:06PM]

looks just like my grandma

[Gad Get @ Jul 10th 2009 9:06PM]

Einstein is rolling in his grave.

[Ellianth @ Jul 10th 2009 9:50PM]

I have it on good authority that he's past that stage. My friend's cousin's dad's uncle visited his grave this morning and his body was gone. I reckon he's on his way to beat the shit out of the creator of this monstrosity.

[edgar wong @ Jul 10th 2009 9:08PM]

looks like an angry lady

[Ty @ Jul 10th 2009 9:10PM]

Disturbing

[Cassini @ Jul 10th 2009 9:13PM]

Looks like an old woman with a mustache.

[cbragg @ Jul 10th 2009 9:20PM]

I thought Bea Arthur died?

[jared @ Jul 10th 2009 9:28PM]

I thought it was an animatronic Bea Arthur.

[Jimmy Jones @ Jul 10th 2009 9:29PM]

I thought I saw his eye balls moved for a second there....phew......

[Jordan Biffle @ Jul 10th 2009 9:32PM]

Why is it that we as humans want robots, but when we see them, we are terrified?

[aatnet @ Jul 12th 2009 2:41AM]

because "we want ROBOTS". Not monsters. Give me a shinny metal beauty. Why replicate all the biological ugliness? Blah

[Seoul Brother @ Jul 10th 2009 9:45PM]

In related news, Real Doll asked for a Federal bailout after their "Marilyn Monroe/Albert Einstein Combo Fun Pack" torpedoed the company.

[Excelsium @ Jul 10th 2009 9:46PM]

What's the point of making it look elderly, very few people will look like that in the future o.o;.

[atlasfugged @ Jul 11th 2009 12:16AM]

Great. Can it write my thesis for me?

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 10th 2009 10:13PM]

There is no formula for what I'm feeling.

[Tony Bowman @ Jul 10th 2009 10:52PM]

Why does Einstein look like Phyllis Diller with a serious poonstache?