Robots with Human Physiology: Intempus' Vision

Intempus: Bridging the Gap Between Humans and Robots

Nineteen-year-old Teddy Warner harbors a long-standing fascination with robotics. Having grown up immersed in the industry through his family’s involvement and practical experience in a machinist shop during his high school years, Warner is now pioneering his own robotics venture, Intempus.

The core mission of Intempus centers on imbuing robots with human-like emotional expressions. This innovative approach aims to enhance human-robot interaction and improve the predictability of robotic actions.

Enhancing Interaction and AI Training

By equipping robots with the ability to display nuanced reactions, Intempus intends to generate valuable data. This data will subsequently be utilized to refine and improve the training of artificial intelligence models.

Warner explained to TechCrunch that these expressions will be manifested through kinetic movements.

“A significant portion of human subconscious signaling isn’t derived from facial expressions or spoken words, but rather from the movements of our limbs and torso,” Warner stated. “This principle extends to animals like dogs and cats as well.”

The Genesis of Intempus

Warner’s inspiration for Intempus arose during his tenure at the AI research laboratory, Midjourney. He observed that many AI research facilities were concentrating on developing world AI models.

These models are designed to comprehend and respond to the complexities of the real world, factoring in spatial dynamics rather than simply relying on cause-and-effect relationships.

However, Warner quickly recognized a critical impediment to achieving true spatial reasoning in these models.

Much of the training data originated from robots lacking inherent spatial understanding.

The Importance of Physiological State

“Currently, robots transition directly from observation to action, bypassing an essential intermediate step that all living beings possess – what we refer to as physiological state,” Warner clarified. “Robots lack this internal state; they don’t experience emotions like joy or stress.”

He continued, “To enable robots to perceive the world as humans do and communicate in a natural, predictable manner, we must equip them with this crucial ‘physiological state.’”

From fMRI Data to Sweat Analysis

Warner initiated research to translate this concept into reality. His initial attempts involved fMRI data, analyzing brain activity through blood flow and oxygen level changes, but these proved unsuccessful.

A suggestion from a friend led him to explore polygraph technology, which measures physiological responses like sweat production. This approach yielded promising results.

“I was surprised by how rapidly I could capture sweat data from myself and colleagues and then train a model capable of attributing emotional composition to robots based solely on this data,” Warner noted.

Expanding Beyond Sweat Data

Warner has since broadened his data collection to include body temperature, heart rate, and photoplethysmography, a technique that measures blood volume fluctuations in the skin’s microvascular network.

Growth and Future Plans

Intempus was officially launched in September 2024, with the first four months dedicated entirely to research. The subsequent period has been focused on developing emotional capabilities for robots and establishing connections with potential clients.

The company has already secured partnerships with seven enterprise robotics firms.

Furthermore, Intempus is a participant in the current cohort of the Thiel Fellowship program, spearheaded by Peter Thiel. This program provides young entrepreneurs with $200,000 over two years to pursue their ventures full-time.

Warner’s immediate priorities include expanding the Intempus team – currently a one-person operation – and conducting real-world testing of the developed technology. While the initial focus remains on retrofitting existing robots, Warner doesn’t dismiss the possibility of Intempus designing its own emotionally intelligent robots in the future.

“My goal is to create robots that exhibit discernible emotions, allowing observers to intuitively understand their state and intentions,” Warner concluded. “I believe I can demonstrate the viability of this approach within the next four to six months.”