Robot with human-like expressions pretends as patient to train doctors

Modern developments in robotics aim to simplify various tasks and assist humans. The new-era robots can work in warehouses, perform massages, and even assist in construction work.

Now, a humanoid robot is training doctors by pretending to have different ailments.

Named RIA, the robot is now part of the classroom at the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.

RIA can be programmed to have all sorts of medical afflictions

Developed by Machani Robotics, RIA can be programmed to have all sorts of medical afflictions. Additionally, the smart machine doesn’t need a break, which increases its long-duration availability.

The lifelike doctor-patient role-play exercises in four-week Medical English course is claimed to be helping aspiring medical professionals prepare for the future.

“ RIA doesn’t get judgmental. She doesn’t get tired. She doesn’t check her smartphone so she’s able to conduct these role plays continuously, effortlessly, over and over again,” said Jonathan Rezach, Program Manager for the English Language Institute.

First robotic classroom experience at the UCSD campus

Programmed with a variety of characters, each presenting unique medical scenarios, RIA’s integration into the English Language Institute’s Medical English course marks the first robotic classroom experience at the UCSD campus.

Embodying the institute’s dedication to delivering innovative educational experiences, the robot provides students with a distinctive opportunity to practice establishing rapport with patients in a simulated environment.

“This is a chance for us to use the most cutting edge research in cognitive science and robotics to help working professionals improve their English Language skills,” said Patti Juza, Associate Dean for UC San Diego Extended Studies.

Ria demonstrates human-like expression and emotion

Designed primarily for human-machine interaction, Ria is claimed to be the culmination of AI-based computer vision, conversation, voice generation, and speech recognition. The machine demonstrates human-like expression and emotion.

Equipped with 360-degree audio detection, the machine has a heightened sense of auditory perception, which enhances its ability to interact and respond effectively.

Human-like emotion generation capability

The robot’s impressive 32 degrees of freedom in the face and head enable the technology to achieve an exceptionally human-like emotion generation capability.

It allows for the creation of over 100 distinct expressions, culminating in a level of realism that closely mimics human emotions and interactions, according to Machani Robotics .

The robot features a dual 4K camera setup, providing precision in visual tasks like navigation and object recognition.

“We have also fitted our robots with a cutting-edge thermal camera, enhancing visual analytics, equipping robots to detect temperature variations and respond effectively to diverse scenarios,” said Machani Robotics.