Autonomous and Social Robotics

Autonomous and social robotics refers to a branch of robotics that combines a robot’s ability to act independently with its capacity to interact socially with humans.

An autonomous robot is capable of perceiving its environment, making decisions, and acting without direct human intervention, thanks to sensors, artificial intelligence, and processing algorithms.

The social dimension allows the robot to recognize non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, voice, or gestures, enabling it to adapt to the user and interact in a natural, empathetic, and meaningful way.

When a robot is both autonomous and social, it can not only operate independently in its environment but also establish smooth and intuitive interactions with humans.

Human-Machine Interaction

Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) refers to the ways in which a human interacts with a digital system. These interactions are evolving through immersive and sensory technologies that make communication more intuitive and natural.

Haptic feedback uses the sense of touch to transmit information. Vibrating belts equipped with motors can send localized signals around the waist, useful in immersive environments such as virtual reality or for discreet user guidance.

Gestural and tangible interactions in mixed reality allow users to manipulate virtual objects through hand gestures or physical interfaces. This facilitates the understanding of complex outputs, such as those from language models, by enhancing their explainability and supporting collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence.

Immersive simulators are also used for training and education. They provide realistic environments where immersion and a sense of presence enhance learning, with technical choices driven by human needs.

HMI integrates the body, gestures, and senses to create richer, more adaptive, and more effective interactions.