EPI was designed by Lund University Cognitive Science Robotics Group. Its approachable child-like appearance conveys friendliness and likeability. In a karaoke setting, EPI can foster a sense of connectedness and emotional reassurance for the performer by synchronizing its movements and light features with the vocals. 

Birger Johansson, Director of the Cognitive Robotics Lab at Lund University introduced EPI to the working group during a 123 playtime session at IAC. The EPI projects github page has a guide on how to make the underlying Ikaros framework communicate with other software. Setting up the real time visual programming language software PureData to communicate over HTTP requests affords individual control over the robots’ motors and LEDs. A proof of concept PureData patch was created that utilized sound pressure from microphone input to have the robot act according to the sound given through it. Many interesting paths could be taken by exploring different types of input/use of sensors and PureData has a lot to offer in this field.

If you would like to connect or perhaps to experience the EPI Karaoke emotional support bot for yourself, please get in touch!

Nicklas Lundberg       nlundberg [at] gmail [dot] com
Amy Boulton              aboulton2 [at] gmail [dot] com
Inês Sério                    ineserio [at] hotmail [dot] com

The project was made within the lecture and workshop series "1, 2, 3 Playtime", which is organised by IAC and Region Skåne. 

Read more about the "1, 2, 3 Playtime lecture and workshop series" here.