Design a face and head for a life-sized humanoid robot

Jacquette Consulting, Inc.

Artificial intelligence and robotics

We are developing life-size humanoid robots intended to interact with and support senior citizens, and we need a head and face design. In this initial contest we are looking for design concepts and preliminary illustrations, with the intent that we will take the winning design(s) and work to have them turned into full 3D models for prototyping and production. While the robot is humanoid, it does not have to look like a human being to be successful (think C3PO.)

The "uncanny valley" is a real challenge in designing humanoid robots, so we encourage designers to stay away from a design that would require realistic skin, hair, eyes, etc. The design can be static or include moving parts, and can also use dynamic elements such as small displays or LEDs. The ideal design will convey emotions of warmth, intelligence, competence, kindness, and understanding. Adjectives to avoid include cold, creepy, sinister and angry. Note that many robot designers gravitate towards a childlike or toy-like look; we'd prefer that our design not go in this direction.