Interaction between a rat and rat-robots as a basic research for humanoid robots

We introduce a trial to realize interaction between a rat and rat-robots in advance of communication between human and robot. The rat-robots were developed, and it is our intention to gain information on useful elements in interaction by repeating behavioral experiments. Similarity of figure and size, the ability to change direction on the spot by use of a two-wheel mechanism, and remote control by FM receiver are the main features of the robot. The experimental system is equipped with a color CCD camera above the experimental field, using this the system captures and processes images of the rat and the rat robots in real-time. A rat weight control system by network is attached to the experimental system for the purpose of reducing experimental work. This system is operated with a Java applet on an Internet browser, so that the installation of an exclusive application is unnecessary. In this way, experimenters can control machines from anywhere by using an Internet browser. When experiments were performed in which the rat-robot guides the rat to the food, we observed that the rat ran after the rat-robot. As a result, it was confirmed that it is possible for a rat-robot to guide a rat.