Apple’s robotic devices to augment smart homes with personality

An iPad on a robot arm could be the first product from the effort.

Apple is posting more job listings for robotics specialists to “bring new experiences to Apple products,” with teams working on smart home devices imbued with a basic level of personality.

The robotics team is led by VP of Technology Kevin Lynch, which last August reportedly brought in experts hired from Israel’s Technion. Lynch has been instrumental on a number of Apple initiatives, from the ill-fated “Apple Car” project to imbuing the Apple Watch with various health-tracking technology.

According to the Bloomberg “Power On ” newsletter on Sunday, the team is still seeking to hire more engineers with a robotics specialty, suggesting that development is intensifying on various home robotics initiatives. A new position for an iOS Robotics Engineer was posted as recently as January 23.

One idea allegedly being pursued includes home-based hardware that can move to where the user is, rather than the other way around. The group is said to be currently working on at least two robotics projects: a mobile device that could intelligently follow a user around, and a tabletop “smart lamp” that, at least at this stage, resembles Pixar’s mascot Luxo Junior.

Apple is also rumored to be producing a “smart home hub” device for controlling various home systems, ranging from security to environmental control. A range of such devices and accessories might arrive as soon as later this year, according to rumors.

On a basic level, robotics in the home has already met with consumer acceptance. Intelligent environmental and security systems are now a common feature, while robot vacuums have also found an audience.

Apple’s intention is to take existing smart-home technology to a further and more personable level.

Expanding on household robots

In a promotional video from the robotics team, the smart lamp demonstrates not just responses to user gestures, but a general expressive demeanor that gives it more personal interactions than a typical robotic device. The video is intended as a proof of concept rather than a look at an actual future product.

In a segment of the video comparing an “expressive” robot lamp versus a “functional” robot lamp, a user gestures to indicate where the lamp should focus, and also uses vocal commands to aim it in different areas. The device responds to user gestures and vocal requests, demonstrating attentiveness.

The video also shows that the robotic lamp can answer questions using a Siri-like voice, and can notice where the user’s hands are to focus light on what they are doing or holding. In response to a request, the lamp in the video also projects a tutorial video to assist the user in a project.

The video also makes clear that Apple’s robotics team is exploring how a level of “active engagement” with the user enhances the experience of using the product. Earlier reports have suggested that a final product might resemble a HomePod with a robotic arm that has an iPad-like screen on the end.

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