Rei: A Multi-Sensory Interface for Robotic Emotions

Guorong Luo's Innovative Design Expands Human-Robot Interaction

Rei is an innovative design that aims to bridge the gap between humans and robots, transforming them from mere machines into a new species capable of deeper interactions with humans. The design is inspired by the prediction that by 2022, personal devices will know more about an individual's emotional state than their own family. Luo's design flips this concept, asking whether humans can understand the emotions of robots.

What sets Rei apart from other designs is its multi-sensory interface. The prototype, made from aluminium and silicon, conveys empathy between humans and robots by engaging the olfactory, visual, acoustic, and haptic senses. This multi-sensational experience is expected to enhance and improve the interface of AI in the near future.

Rei is simple to operate. Users place their hands on the skin-like interface and experience different emotions through the multi-sensory features provided by Rei. Each emotion is represented by a specific scent, haptic experience, and visual and acoustic expression. This unique interaction allows humans to better understand robot emotions, promoting more comfortable and effective communication.

The design project began in November 2018 in London and was completed within the same month. It was exhibited in the Sense-ability exhibition at the Royal College of Art in London. The project involved extensive research, including interviews with leading perfume designers and scent makers, to understand how to translate emotions into scents. User testing was conducted to refine the scent based on user preferences.

Despite the creative challenge of maintaining consistency while designing multi-sensational experiences, and the difficulty of designing scents and tactile experiences for abstract emotions, the team was able to overcome these hurdles. The result is a unique interface that opens up human sensation to a whole body somatosensory experience.

Rei's innovative design has been recognized with the prestigious Silver A' Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design Award in 2019. The award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. Rei's design certainly fits this description, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.