Robotics Reference
In-Depth Information
deals with measures whose values change independently of how the robot
interprets its current situation, for example the loudness of a noise or the
brightness of a light. Another type of measure is involved with a robot's
interpretation of a situation, for example measures that help to define the
strength of friendship or animosity felt by the robot for another robot or
for a human. The third type of measure contributes to a robot's mood
by altering a robot's interpretation of a situation—this type can easily be
altered by a change in the robot's situation and they return as a matter of
course to their initial preset values over a period of time.
How Emotions Are Affected by Actions
Arobotcanapproveordisapproveofitsownactions,orthoseofan-
other robot or a human, according to a set of standards that represent
both moral beliefs of right and wrong (for example “Thou shall not hit
people on the head”) and personal beliefs about the robot's own level of
performance (such as “I should be able to beat David at chess”). If a ro-
bot approves or disapproves of one of its own actions then it experiences
pride or shame. Similar actions by another robot give rise to admiration
or reproach. The intensities of these emotions are based primarily on the
level of approval or disapproval of the action. The Oz emotion module
judges its approval or disapproval of actions by evaluating every act that
it senses according to its own standards.
How Emotions Are Affected by Objects
Objects (including other robots and people) can be liked or disliked by a
robot according to its own attitudes—its personal tastes and preferences
(as in “I dislike modern art”). In the Oz emotion module these two
emotions were expanded to include a few similar emotions, such as awe.
When a robot thinks about or notices an “object”, this can give rise to
an emotional response. For example, thinking about an object that the
robot likes gives rise to love, whereas thinking about an object disliked by
the robot gives rise to hate. The intensities of these emotions for a robot
are based primarily on the level of its liking or its dislike for the object.
How Emotions Are Affected by the Robot's Goals
There are two sets of goals in the Oz control module: the planner keeps a
list of the current active goals and the emotion module keeps a list of the
