Brussels, 14/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Is the development of robots with feelings possible or will it remain a myth? For German, French, Italian, Dutch and British researchers, such an application can one day become a reality. They have developed a project known as the ALIZ-E, which explores ways of developing behaviour in robots that is similar to human behaviour and its propensity for feelings. The research is based on the study of interaction between children and robots, capitalising on children's open and imaginative responses to artificial “creatures”. Although children are able to demonstrate attachment towards artificial creatures, the latter have not hitherto been able to reciprocate. The researchers are seeking to implement memory systems in robots as part of the latter's interaction process. Memory plays a crucial role in social relationships and the behaviour men and women adopt is influenced by experience gained in similar previous experiences. If the research turns out to be conclusive, it could result in the development of “educational companion robots” for children. Currently, the research carried out has not yet gone beyond a scientific laboratory stage. The following step will consist of the observation of interaction between these robots and young patients from the paediatric department at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. Researchers will explore whether the robot can engage and maintain the child's interest during play by tailoring its own behaviour to the child's individual use of language, speech patterns, body language and play preferences. Funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme, the ALIZ-E project was launched in March 2010 and will continue until the end of 2014. It will receive €8.2 million from the Commission out of a total budget of €10.6 million. (IL/transl.fl)