#cybernetics

This is the shift from prompt engineering to harness engineering; cybernetics applied to agentic AI workflows. The goal is to create environments where agents handle repetitive tasks driven by feedback. While humans prioritize defining the rules, constraints and goals of the system. The future of software engineering is not about stronger prompts, but systems which self-correct.

"U2S has a humanoid shape. Its face is capable of basic expression by way of its mouth and eyes, which are made up using LEDs matrix. The initial sketch of the robot was made by an art student. Robot locomotion is achieved using differential steering. The robot has the ability to play audio tracks, using an audio amplifier and speakers. Music was composed by a student from the Faculty of Music. Voice-generated messages were composed by a student from the Department of Redaction, Communication and Multimedia. Visual messages are possible using a LEDs electronic panel installed on the robot’s back. A graphical touchscreen interface is on the front of the robot. Originally a PDA was used, but turned out to be too small. The interaction scenarios for the menus shown on the PDA were developed by a student in Marketing. Since the university representatives usually gave out business cards with the university's website address, a simple automatic card dispenser was installed on the robot. Whilst still being able to function (without mobility), U2S can simply be charged by plugging the robot into an electric outlet. For control and communication, U2S has a wireless remote control and a short range radio system which enables an operator to talk to people and control the robot’s movements from a remote distance. In consideration of naive users, all functionality needed to be simple and easy to use." – Modularity and Integration in the Design of a Socially Interactive Robot, François Michaud et al, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.

"The young Austrian Attraktion! GmbH and Germany’s MetraLabs GmbH from Ilmenau recently founded a joint venture (We Robots GmbH) to develop their innovative robot generation “WeRobots”. They launched their new product at MAPIC 2013 (13 to 15 Nov), an international retail property show, in Cannes last week. The newly developed robots are characterized in particular by their group performance skills and their ability to interact and communicate with each other as well as with people. Besides speaking all world languages, the robots are equipped with a 15’’ multi touch screen, an integrated camera, a microphone and a content management system. Thanks to their ability to measure rooms three-dimensionally and to identify humans, the WeRobots can be used in environments such as shopping malls, FECs, brandlands, airports, expos, exhibitions etc. Customization is also possible. “A new era is beginning with the emergence of WeRobots as information and guidance get meaningful for visitors,” says Managing Director of We Robots GmbH Markus Beyr. While the corporate group Attraktion! describes itself as an innovation, development and sales platform for new types of recreational attractions, MetraLabs GmbH specializes in the development and manufacturing of mobile robots." – „WeRobots“ – Attraktion! and MetraLabs Launch New Robot Generation.

"Especially designed for human-robot interaction topics, the humanoid Reddy is a development tool as well as an entertainment robot. By combining facial expression to arms movement, it easily express a wide range of emotions like joy, anger, sadness, surprise or disgust. Nine quiet servos control parts of the face, such as lips, eyes pitch and yaw and eyebrows though eight quiet and powerful digital servos control neck pitch and yaw, shoulders and elbows. Reddy can either run on a simple sequence script or be coupled to a more complex emotional system for very dynamic and realistic interaction. Optional hardware, such as microphones and cameras, can be added to the robot to perform localization and separation of sound sources as well as speech and objects detection and recognition. Sounds are played through a speaker installed on the chest. Moreover, the torso of Reddy is designed to be installed on many standard or non-standard mobile robot base for navigation." – The emotional humanoid.

"If you believe what you see in science fiction movies, human-like robots are just around the corner---if not already operational in secret research labs. The truth is, though robots are common in manufacturing and industry today, they do not interact directly with humans. For safety reasons, most robots operate inside cages or in restricted areas. If human-like robots are ever going to move freely among us in a broad range of situations (assisting the handicapped and elderly, conducting search-and-rescue operations, or playing roles in sales and entertainment), we will need to do more than make them safer; we will need to understand how to program them to collaborate with us smoothly and naturally." – Engagement and Collaboration in Human-Robot Interaction.

Mel explores "engagement behaviors in the context of what we called “hosting.” A robot host guides a human, or groups of humans, around an environment (such as a museum or a store), tells them about the environment, and supervises their interaction with. objects in the environment. Hosting is form of collaboration and companionship aimed primarily at information sharing rather than long-term relationship building. Mel implemented algorithms for initiating, maintaining, and terminating engagement in spoken dialogues with a human collaborator. Mel tracked the human’s face and gaze and, when it was appropriate, looked at and pointed to shared objects relevant to the conversation. Mel also produced and recognized head nods. Mel could converse about himself, participate in a collaborative demonstration of a device, as well as locate a person in an office environment and initiate an interaction with that person." – Robots and Avatars as Hosts, Advisors, Companions, and Jesters, by Charles Rich and Candace L. Sidner