Meet ELEGNT: Apple's robotic lamp that can dance, express emotions
What's the story
Apple's research team has unveiled a prototype of a robotic lamp called ELEGNT.
The futuristic device aims to make human interaction with robots more expressive and natural. It can dance and also express emotions.
The project was described in a research paper on Apple's Machine Learning Research site and could offer a glimpse into the tech giant's future in the world of home robotics.
Tech specs
ELEGNT's features and functionalities
The ELEGNT prototype looks like a desk-style lamp with an LED light, a camera, a speaker, and projector.
It answers voice commands with Siri-like responses and behaves like a human. This includes dancing to music, following user movements for the best lighting, and showing emotions through physical gestures.
The research paper describing this project was written by Yuhan Hu, Peide Huang, Mouli Sivapurapu, and Jian Zhang.
Future plans
Apple's advanced home robot: A sneak peek
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple is working on a more advanced home robot, which could launch between 2026 and 2027.
The device is said to have an iPad-like screen on a robotic arm that can rotate 360 degrees.
It will be a smart home command center and FaceTime hub, priced at an estimated $1,000.
Project details
Development and features of Apple's home robot
The development of Apple's advanced home robot is being overseen by Kevin Lynch, the company's VP of technology. Hundreds of employees are reportedly involved in its creation.
The device is tipped to run on a modified version of iPadOS and will include features like voice recognition and user tracking.
These details align with the functionalities demonstrated by the ELEGNT prototype, hinting at potential capabilities for Apple's future home robotics products.