Cybernetic avatars are hybrid interaction robots or digital representations that combine autonomous capabilities with teleoperated control. This study investigates the acceptance of cybernetic avatars in the highly multicultural society of Dubai, with particular emphasis on robotic avatars for customer service. Specifically, we explore how acceptance varies as a function of robot appearance (e.g., android, robotic-looking, cartoonish), deployment settings (e.g., shopping malls, hotels, hospitals), and functional tasks (e.g., providing information, patrolling). To this end, we conducted a large-scale survey with over 1,000 participants. Overall, cybernetic avatars received a high level of acceptance, with physical robot avatars receiving higher acceptance than digital avatars. In terms of appearance, robot avatars with a highly anthropomorphic robotic appearance were the most accepted, followed by cartoonish designs and androids. Animal-like appearances received the lowest level of acceptance. Among the tasks, providing information and guidance was rated as the most valued. Shopping malls, airports, public transport stations, and museums were the settings with the highest acceptance, whereas healthcare-related spaces received lower levels of support. An analysis by community cluster revealed among others that Emirati respondents showed significantly greater acceptance of android appearances compared to the overall sample, while participants from the 'Other Asia' cluster were significantly more accepting of cartoonish appearances. Our study underscores the importance of incorporating citizen feedback into the design and deployment of cybernetic avatars from the early stages to enhance acceptance of this technology in society.

Robot avatars for customer service are gaining traction in Japan. However, their acceptance in other societal contexts remains underexplored, complicating efforts to design robot avatars suitable for diverse cultural environments. To address this, we interviewed key stakeholders in Dubai's service sector to gain insights into their experiences deploying social robots for customer service, as well as their opinions on the most useful tasks and design features that could maximize customer acceptance of robot avatars in Dubai. Providing information and guiding individuals to specific locations were identified as the most valued functions. Regarding appearance, robotic-looking, highly anthropomorphic designs were the most preferred. Ultra-realistic androids and cartoonish-looking robots elicited mixed reactions, while hybrid androids, low-anthropomorphic robotic designs, and animal-looking robots were considered less suitable or discouraged. Additionally, a psycho-sociological analysis revealed that interactions with robot avatars are influenced by their symbolic meaning, context, and affordances. These findings offer pioneering insights into culturally adaptive robot avatar design, addressing a significant research gap and providing actionable guidelines for deploying socially acceptable robots and avatars in multicultural contexts worldwide.

In 2034, the first person landed on Mars. While she didn't go there physically, she still experienced the planet intimately. She explored an ancient river delta and built a base. She put up a flag (China's) and conducted a detailed analysis of rock samples. She achieved all this by inhabiting a robot via a sophisticated brain-computer interface.

Abstract-- This paper discusses the necessary considerations and adjustments that allow a recently proposed avatar system architecture to be used with different robotic avatar morphologies (both wheeled and legged robots with various types of hands and kinematic structures) for the purpose of enabling remote (intercontinental) telepresence under communication bandwidth restrictions. The case studies reported involve robots using both position and torque control modes, independently of their software middleware. In Walt Disney's carousel of progress, actions of an actor wearing a "control harness" are pre-recorded on tapes and The actions and facial expressions, when played back, are almost life-like inspiring awe in the audience. Even with the lack of feedback to the actor, and the limited distance covered, this represents an early example (being now a 60-if; (i) on the operator side; the feeling of being present year-old attraction) of a telerobotic application. For instance, applications thus necessitate both manipulation and/or there needs to be a "face" encouraging social interaction locomotion capabilities on the part of the robotic avatar.

A drawing robot avatar is a robotic system that allows for telepresence-based drawing, enabling users to remotely control a robotic arm and create drawings in real-time from a remote location. The proposed control framework aims to improve bimanual robot telepresence quality by reducing the user workload and required prior knowledge through the automation of secondary or auxiliary tasks. The introduced novel method calculates the near-optimal Cartesian end-effector pose in terms of visual feedback quality for the attached eye-to-hand camera with motion constraints in consideration. The effectiveness is demonstrated by conducting user studies of drawing reference shapes using the implemented robot avatar compared to stationary and teleoperated camera pose conditions. Our results demonstrate that the proposed control framework offers improved visual feedback quality and drawing performance.

Today there are more incredible uses for robots than ever before. Innovators and inventors worldwide are applying countless types of robots to fascinating tasks. You may have heard of mechanized surgeons and AI cars, but have you heard of these six exciting uses? More eateries, especially fast-food businesses, are facing difficulties with staffing today. Developers have devised innovative solutions and unique new types of robotics.

A robot avatar that mimics the motions of a human controller could take the place of workers in several dangerous jobs, such as tree trimming and construction, by the end of 2022. The challenge: If a tree branch gets too close to a power line, it can cause electrical outages or, even worse, dangerous fires (as Californians know all too well). To avoid this, utility companies have to regularly trim trees near their lines. But it's dangerous work, as workers are dozens of feet above the ground, using sharp power tools to trim trees while power lives are still active -- this puts them at risk of falls, cuts, and electrocution, all at once. By some estimates, tree trimming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

One of the consequences of people being told to stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus is loneliness. And a collection of 13 robotics experts from around the world have a suggestion for how to solve that: a robot pal. The innovation is just one of many mentioned in an open letter by the global contingent of robotics experts who suggest that the coronavirus pandemic should serve as a catalyst for the increased use and development of robots. "Now the impact of COVID-19 may drive further research in robotics to address risks of infectious diseases," says the statement, published March 25 in Science Robotics magazine. The statement aims to inspire more funding to develop these varieties of robots, many of which it became clear were needed during the 2015 Ebola crisis.

Samantha Gilweit, who is used to performing improv comedy in front of large crowds, went with her best opening bit, the one about drunken princesses that never fails. She delivered the punchline, and…dead silence. Her mind raced with how to recover. A second later, smiley-face emoji appeared over the heads of the animated robots and digitally rendered humanoids that stood in for the audience, followed by a gush of hearts. That's how "you knew you were killing it," the 31-year-old said.

Yuuta Banda poses for a photo with OriHime, his robot avatar. When Yuuta Banda was just four years old, he suffered a car accident that left him paralyzed, connected to a respiratory machine, and confined to bed for life. But almost two decades later, he's been able to experience different places, and even find a job thanks to OriHime, his robot avatar. "At first I couldn't understand what was so great about OriHime, but I gradually learned through using it that [the robot] afforded people with a sense of presence," Banda told me in an email. "I felt a greater sense of satisfaction as I spoke with people in different places to me through the robot."