Robotics 2.1 WORLD
In the field of humanoid robotics, what theoretical concept describes the feeling of unease felt by a human when faced with a robot that resembles them but whose imperfections appear “strange”?
75% of players answered correctly.
THE CORRECT ANSWER: Uncanny Valley
Theorized by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori in 1970, this hypothesis suggests that the more a robot resembles a human being, the more positive its perception becomes by a human observer.However, there is a critical point: when the resemblance is almost perfect but slight anomalies remain in the look, skin or movements, the feeling of familiarity suddenly shifts to a feeling of unease, disgust, or even fear.This psychological phenomenon is a major challenge for designers of service or reception robots intended to interact closely with the public. To cross this “valley”, engineers must either remain in a clearly robotic stylization or achieve absolute mimetic perfection.Understanding this reaction is essential for the social acceptance of future androids in our daily lives and work environments.