The i-Botics robotic avatar system is the next generation multisensory telepresence systems. The system can effectively transport an operator’s social and functional self to a telepresence robot, with high levels of ownership and immersion, meaning that an operator’s (the person controlling the telepresence robot) perception and manipulation will be tightly coupled to a telepresence robot, in a way that creates the illusion of being the robot.

We aim to acquire the iCub 2.0 robotic platform to investigate cognitive robotics, neurorobotics, social robotics and their integration. Cognitive robotics allows us to investigate cognitive abilities and the grounding of conceptual representations by means of the physical interactions of the iCub with its environment. Neurorobotics allows us to investigate neuronal learning processes based on these interactions. Social robotics allows us to investigate the social interactions between humans and robots, and the factors that determine the acceptance of robots by humans. The combination of cognitive robotics, neurorobotics and social robotics provides unique possibilities for the integration of these fields. The iCub allows us to test and investigate cognitive architectures and mechanisms by the direct execution of behavior in a physical environment, not just by simulation or analysis. Furthermore, the mechanisms involved concern the entire process from perception to action, instead of just a part of it (leaving open the question of how that part would fit in with the rest of the process). Comparing the behavior of the robot with that of humans allows us to test our models of the cognitive mechanisms that humans apply in similar tasks. We will use the robot to learn conceptual representations of its environment through the coordinated use of its senses and limbs. Understanding how the robot learns from interacting with its environment informs us about how humans could learn from similar experiences. The new capabilities of the iCub 2.0 (e.g., force control, optical flow, touch abilities) allow us to learn and investigate a range of novel conceptual representations. The successful development of robots will critically depend on whether humans accept robots in their environment and on how humans are able to interact with them in a safe and purposive manner. Conversely, the robot will have to learn its social behavior by interacting with humans. The iCub allows us to test and investigate human-robot dialogue based on the accurate detection of human non-verbal and verbal social behaviors and the real time behavioral responses of the robot. The iCub will allow us to address societal relevant contexts of robot applications such as health and care. The infrastructure for the iCub is provided for by the campus of the University of Twente, which guarantees the optimal use of the highly multidisciplinary research platform offered by the iCub. We provide access to and use of the iCub for other national research institutes.