China's Ex-Robots Develops Humanoids with Enhanced Facial Expressions

In the Ex-Robots factory located in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, engineers are focused on developing humanoid robots with advanced facial expressions and emotional capabilities.

The factory floor is filled with silicone masks, arms, feet, and disembodied robot heads, as well as humanoid robots in various stages of construction. The walls are adorned with drawings of new robot designs.

"We have our own software and algorithm teams," said Ex-Robots CEO Li Boyang. "Humanoid robots are the most complex class of robotic products."

While many basic models and algorithms are commonly available as open-source, Ex-Robots is concentrating on enabling their AI to better recognize and express a wide range of expressions and emotions. An on-site demonstration showed a humanoid robot mimicking the facial movements and expressions of an employee, thanks to the tiny motors installed in the robot's head.

"The model we're making is multi-modal and capable of emotional expression," Li explained. "It can perceive the surrounding environment and produce appropriate facial feedback."

The production time for a humanoid robot at Ex-Robots ranges from 2 weeks to a month, with prices between 1.5 to 2 million yuan ($207,000 to $276,000). So far, the main application has been for display in museums, with one such exhibit housed in the same building as the factory.

Looking ahead, Li believes humanoid robots will play a larger role in healthcare and education, such as in psychological counseling, emotional support, and children's services. Ex-Robots is currently conducting research into using their robots for auxiliary treatment and emotional disorder screening.

"I believe that emotional interaction has broader applications in service fields, such as those aimed at children," Li said.

中國的Ex-Robots 開發擁有增強面部動作的人型機械人

位於中國東北部沿海城市大連的Ex-Robots工廠內,工程師們正專注於開發擁有先進面部表情和情感能力的人型機械人。

廠房地板上散落著矽膠面具、手臂和腳,還有零散的機械人頭部,同時也有各個製造階段的人型機械人立在附近。牆上掛著新機械人設計的圖樣。

「我哋有自己嘅軟件同算法團隊」,Ex-Robots行政總裁李博陽表示,「人型機械人係最複雜嘅機械人產品類別」。

雖然有很多基本型號同演算法係公開源碼,俾人用,但Ex-Robots更專注於令佢哋嘅AI能夠識別同表達表情同情感。現場示範顯示,一個機械人憑藉裝嵌於頭部嘅細小電機,能準確模仿員工嘅面部動作同表情。

「我哋製造嘅型號係多模態嘅,具備情感表達能力」,李解釋說,「佢哋可以感知周圍環境,產生適當嘅面部反饋」。

一架Ex-Robots人型機械人嘅生產時間由2星期至1個月,價格由150萬至200萬元人民幣(20.7萬至27.6萬美元)唔等。到目前為止,主要應用係於博物館展覽,工廠所在大樓內亦有一個這類展覽。

展望未來,李認為人型機械人將會在醫療同教育領域扮演更重要嘅角色,例如心理輔導、情緒支援同兒童服務。Ex-Robots現正進行將機械人用作輔助治療同情緒障礙篩查的研究。

「我相信情感互動在面向兒童等服務領域有更廣泛的應用」,李說。