Credit: VentureBeat made with Midjourney

Apple researchers have developed a new framework for making non-humanoid robots move more naturally and expressively during interactions with people, potentially paving the way for more engaging robotic assistants in homes and workplaces.

The research, published this month on arXiv, introduces ELEGNT (Expressive and Functional Movement Design), which allows robots to convey intentions, emotions and attitudes through their movements rather than just completing functional tasks.

“For robots to interact more naturally with humans, robot movement design should integrate expressive qualities—such as intention, attention, and emotions—alongside traditional functional considerations like task fulfillment, spatial constraints, and time efficiency,” write the researchers from Apple’s robotics team.

How a desk lamp became the perfect test subject for robot emotions

The study focused on a lamp-like robot, reminiscent of Pixar’s animated Luxo Jr. character, equipped with a 6-axis robotic arm and a head containing a light and projector. The researchers programmed the robot with two types of movements: purely functional ones focused on completing tasks, and more expressive movements designed...