Inflatable Cybernetic Avatar for Extended Social Interaction

Abstract

This paper proposes a humanoid cybernetic avatar (CA) that can replicate and extend human presence inexpensively and create social interactions that are difficult to simulate among humans. Standard life-size humanoid robots are expensive and have the disadvantage of being difficult to customize and use multiple units. Therefore, we constructed a humanoid robot with an inflatable structure, omitting work and walking abilities and focusing only on appearance and gestures. Humanoid inflatable CAs are lightweight, contact-safe, foldable when deflated, and can be customized in shape and texture at low cost. The social interactions enabled by such robots are discussed and categorized.