MiRo is a highly-featured and versatile platform for research in human-robot interaction that supports on-board (Raspberry Pi) and off-board control (via Wifi or Bluetooth) supported by a full-physics simulation environment. MiRo-E can be used in a variety of research projects spanning from Machine Learning, to Human Robot Interaction (HRI), to Robot Assisted Therapy (RAT), to Biomimetics and Swarm Robotics. Here is a brief list of a few of the research applications that we’ve noted for MiRo-E.
MiRo-E has a wide range of applications in Research, we have noted a small collection in detail below but this is by no means exhaustive.
NEXT GENERATION COMPANION ROBOTS
Like companion animals and pets, robots have the potential to sustain long-term social interactions, be engaging, and offer forms of spoken and physical comfort. Through their robotic functionality they can also support capabilities such as monitoring whilst requiring less care and support than pets.
MiRo-E is designed to help developers create the next generation of personal and companion robots that will go beyond mere toys creating lasting and rewarding engagement for users. Being animal-like rather than human-like people respond to MiRo with a different set of expectations that are more easily matched by today’s AI. Interacting with MiRo-E is already an incredibly fun and emotionally rewarding experience.
HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION (HRI)
Research into how people interact with robots is emerging as user-facing robots come out of the factories and start entering our lives and homes. The burgeoning field of HRI needs programmable platforms with lots of in-built capability that are engaging and easy to use. MiRo-E’s strengths are its attractive animal-like persona, robust build, long battery-life, wide-range of sensor and actuator types. MiRo-E is an open-development platform — you as the developer have full access to all of the sensor and actuator systems for on-board or off-board control.
BIOMIMETICS AND BRAIN-BASED ROBOTICS
MiRo-E’s animal-like design and control system will be of particular interest to researchers investigating models of animal brains and behaviour. MiRo-E builds on decades of previous work in developing robots with brain-based control systems. MiRo-E’s control architecture operates across three core ARM processors that mimic aspects of spinal cord, brainstem, and forebrain functionality respectively including their relative speed and computational power. One important feature is that the control latency of loops through the lowest reprogrammable processor, P1, can be as low as a few milliseconds. This distribution of processing substrates from “fast and simple” through to “slow and sophisticated” is potentially a useful design element for many robots. Consequential’s research partners at the University of Sheffield are using the MiRo robot to test brain models of animal-like spatial memory, we would welcome further collaborations with researchers interested in brain-based robotics.
ROBOT-ASSISTED THERAPY (RAT)
Research with companion animals and pets show that these provide many positive emotional outcomes for their owners including reduced risk of some diseases, decreased levels of pain in patients with chronic illness, and reduction in feelings of isolation and loneliness. Even a relatively short period of interaction with a companion animal can have positive and lasting impacts particularly in times of stress. Recent research has also demonstrated that some of the benefits can also be obtained from interactions with animal-like robots. The appearance and behaviour of MiRo-E make it an ideal platform for investigating the potential use of robots in robot-assisted therapy for both children and adults. Consequential are currently working to develop new interface software that particular targets therapeutic interactions and a soft, washable stroke-able covering that will encourage a rewarding tactile interaction.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH
MiRo-E can demonstrate the potential of future companion robots to visitors to your laboratory, museum or visitor attraction. MiRo-E comes with engaging life-like functionality provided by our biomimetic control software. MiRo-E will orient to and approach sound sources and moving objects, this means he will approach people stopping when he gets close. Stroke MiRo behind the ears or on the back and he wags his tail. MiRo likes you! MiRo’s animal-like vocalisations mean that he both acts and sounds like a friendly small animal. Children are particularly drawn to MiRo but so are adults of all ages and genders. We are constantly working to extend MiRo’s repertoire of in-built behaviours to make interacting with MiRo even more emotionally engaging and fun.
Originally published by MiRo
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