The World in 2030

268 The World in 2030
By enabling the robot to form facial expressions
using its eyebrows, eyelids, mouth, and head position,
the researchers are aiming to let it show if it
is confused, for example, when interacting with its
human user. The long-term goal is to use Dastani’s
emotional-logic software to assist in human and robot
interaction, but for now, the researchers intend
to use the iCAT to display internal emotional states
as it makes decisions. 489
And American scientists are also working hard to develop
responses in robots that might be described as ‘emotional’
or as ‘feelings’. As The Daily Telegraph reported in
February 2007:
At present, commercially available robots such as automatic
vacuum cleaners are little more than drones
capable of carrying out only one task. However,
speaking at the American Association for the Advancement
of Science in San Francisco yesterday, a
panel of robotics experts said robots capable of multiple
domestic tasks, that can also provide companionship
for their owners, will be available within 10
years. And the scientists claim it is already possible to
give robots such ‘feelings’.
A number of groups around the world are now developing
robots that have basic emotions in a bid to
motivate the machines.
If a robot feels happy after it has cleaned a dirty carpet
particularly well, then it will apparently seek out