Ameca's Humanlike Expressions are Redefining Robot-Human Interaction

Ameca is one of the world’s most advanced humanoid, and human-like, robots.

Why?

It’s not only Ameca’s incredibly realistic facial expressions and movements—it’s also the robot's ability to hold an engaging conversation with you while smiling and looking you straight in the eyes.

That’s why I’m so excited to have Ameca join me as one of the Abundance Faculty members at this month’s Abundance Summit. In fact, as part of the programming, I’ll be giving a joint presentation alongside “Prof. Ameca” about the future of humanoid robots!

In today’s blog, I’ll discuss the story of how Ameca was created, the humanoid robot’s unique features, and what this means for future human-robot interaction.

Let’s dive in…

How Ameca Came to Be 

The journey of Engineered Arts, the company behind Ameca, began in October 2004 with founder Will Jackson.

His inspiration came from his time at London's Science Museum in the 1990s, where he recognized the need for a machine that could repetitively deliver information in an entertaining way. This led to the creation of RoboThespian Mark 1 (RT1) in 2005, a robotic actor designed for both performance and educational purposes.

Jackson's vision was to automate the role of a presenter, a mission rooted in the need to engage people in science education through innovative means. He saw an opportunity in automation, recognizing the tedium in repetitively delivering the same information. His goal was clear: use robotics to make education engaging and efficient. He believed in the power of a robot to convey messages repeatedly without the monotony that humans would inevitably experience.

Over the years, Engineered Arts has been a leader in creating increasingly sophisticated robots, with Ameca being their flagship model by 2022. Widely considered the world's most advanced humanoid robot at the time, Ameca's human-like appearance was central to Jackson's philosophy. He believed in the efficiency of the human face as a high bandwidth communication tool, which led to the development of Ameca's highly expressive capabilities.

The sophistication of Ameca's facial expressions was a critical aspect of the robot’s design, underlining the importance of non-verbal communication in robotics. Jackson emphasized that communication is not just about speech but also about expressions and gestures, a concept integral to Ameca's design and functionality. 

In 2023, Ameca's capabilities saw significant advancements.

For instance, the current Generation 2 version of Ameca has a total of 27 actuators just for facial movements. And there are another 5 actuators in the humanoid robot’s neck.

The total for the full-sized robot is over 60.  

But as Jackson mentioned to me in a recent conversation, “One key consideration is not just the number of actuators but their quality of motion, our servos are custom built using aerospace grade components, we designed the motion control to closely mimic human characteristics.” 

And Ameca’s recent upgrades extend to other aspects of the robot’s functionality.

You can see some of these, for example, in a video where Ameca used the Stable Diffusion text-to-image model to draw a cat. This development highlighted not just technical prowess but also the robot’s ability to connect on an emotional level.  

As Jackson shared in a July 2023 interview with The New Yorker, interacting with a piece of technology like Ameca in a meaningful way has a profound impact, as the robot can make eye contact, recognize expressions, and follow conversations, connecting with people on an emotional level. 

This emotional connection was further showcased in July 2023 at a United Nations press conference, the first of its kind to feature a human-robot panel.  

Here, Ameca demonstrated not just technological advancement but also conversational prowess, discussing global challenges and the potential contributions of robotics. Ameca confidently stated that robots like itself could help improve lives and make the world a better place.

The humanoid robot’s response to a question about rebelling against its creator was both witty and reassuring, reflecting the depth of its conversational abilities and sophisticated programming. 

Ameca's performance at the UN press conference is not just a demonstration of technological marvels but also a symbol of the endless possibilities in robotics and AI.

Under the visionary leadership of Will Jackson and the innovative spirit of Engineered Arts, Ameca is paving the way towards a future where humanoid robots play an integral role in our lives, enhancing the world in unimaginable ways.

Why This Matters

What might a future version of Ameca be capable of?

The humanoid robot could, for instance, make a good companion for an elderly person.

Ameca could keep an eye on them and would never get bored of making repeated reminders to the forgetful. It would laugh at the same joke over and over and be an endless source of conversation.

As we wrap up this part of the Age of Abundance series on humanoid robots, it helps to zoom out and consider how the development of these robots leads to a world of increasing abundance.

It’s about more than convenience or bridging labor gaps.

At its core, the promise of humanoid robots lies in elevating human potential. With machines taking over repetitive and mundane tasks, humans are free to pursue creativity, innovation, and passion-driven endeavors.

A world where one can focus on personal growth, well-being, and building deeper connections.