FloBI the social robot head

A robot’s head is important both for directional sensors and, in human-directed robotics, as the single most visible interaction interface. However, designing a robot’s head faces contradicting requirements when integrating powerful sensing with social expression. Further, reactions of the general public show that current head designs often cause negative user reactions and distract from the functional capabilities.

The anthropomorphic robot head “Flobi” combines state-of-the-art sensing with an exterior that elicits a sympathetic emotional response. It can display primary and secondary emotions in a human-like way, to enable intuitive human-robot-interaction. To facilitate further research on facial appearance,the exterior is fully modular and replaceable.

For more technical info, check out Flobi's tech specs

Publications

(S)he’s got the look: Gender stereotyping of robots (In press). Eyssel F and Hegel F.

The Social Robot ‘Flobi’: Key Concepts of Industrial Design (ROMAN 2010). Hegel F, Eyssel F, and Wrede B. 

The Bielefeld Anthropomorphic Robot Head Flobi (ICRA 2010) Lütkebohle I, Hegel F, Schulz S, Hackel M, Wrede B, and Wachsmuth S. Video for that paper.

Gestalterisch konstruktiver Entwurf eines sozialen Roboters (2009). Hegel F.