Introduction to Angelina Kozhevnikova and Her Relational Robots
- Angelina Kozhevnikova creates relational robots that explore how humans coexist and co-evolve with technology, and one of her robots, named Another, has no face or purpose other than moving with people, which has a profound effect on those who interact with it, including herself 10s.
- Angelina was born into a traditional family that valued stability and appearances, and as a result, she was often asked about her grades but not her feelings, leading to confusion about her career choices and a fear of making mistakes 2m6s.
Early Life and Career Conflicts
- Angelina initially chose to study architecture, which seemed like a safe choice, but she found it boring and felt stuck in a cycle of longing, trying, fear, and hiding, until her body started to show signs of stress, including panic attacks, skin rashes, and heart pain 4m42s.
- It was during this time that Angelina discovered the work of Gordon Pask, who built machines that adapted, learned, and grew new senses, which inspired her to believe that she could build something that would help her find freedom and creativity 8m10s.
Discovery of Gordon Pask and the Start of Anima Space
- Angelina started working in an advanced robotics research lab and began her own artistic research practice, called anima space, where she started building her own robot, Another, which was initially just a prototype made of cubes but eventually became a project that she continued to develop through a transdisciplinary artistic research project 12m15s.
- The robot Another was found to be interesting by people who interacted with it, not because it looked human or recognizable, but because of the quality of its movement, which struggled and seemed alive, inspiring Angelina to continue developing the project 14m20s.
Development of the Robotic Brain and Initial Challenges
- The development of a robotic brain from scratch was undertaken through research, which involved exploring body languages and their connection to emotions, and this journey was aided by two choreographers 10s.
- The initial results of connecting traditional AI and machine learning to the robotic brain were interesting but not as expected, as the algorithms failed to distinguish between different emotions, such as joy and anger 42s.
- A workshop with a youth community in Rotterdam revealed that a movement can be interpreted in completely different ways by different people, highlighting the complexity of understanding human expressions and emotions 2m6s.
Evolution of Another and Its Interactive Nature
- The realization that intelligence may not be solely inside the robot, but rather in the movement itself and the interaction between people and the robot, led to the development of Another, a robot that continuously tracks and responds to movement 2m6s.
- Another forms a continuous loop with its user, allowing for continuous adjustment and shaping of the interaction, without a leader, mimicry, classification, or turn-taking 2m6s.
- The experience of moving with Another helped to overcome personal fears and feelings of instability, and instead of hiding, it allowed for a new cycle of movement and interaction to emerge, which slowly changed the individual 2m6s.
Human-Robot Interactions and Creative Potential
- The interactions between people and the robot were unique and diverse, ranging from dancing and playing to attempts to understand and decode the robot's behavior, demonstrating the potential for robots to facilitate real-time improvisation and creativity 2m6s.
- The conclusion drawn from this experience is that one should not try to shrink themselves into predefined boxes or roles, but rather become alive by moving, relating, and collaborating with something or someone that is not fully understood, and that fear can be a catalyst for growth and movement 2m6s.
