Creepy robotic head mimics a child

Does the robotic head in this video creep you out? Some robotics research has shown that robots that look and behave almost like humans aren't well accepted by people. But Hisashi Ishihara and his team from Osaka University in Japan, who created the head, think that caregivers are more likely to accept an ultrarealistic face. They're hoping to use it to study the relationship that normally develops between a young child and its carer.

The robot's face is made from soft silicone that mimics skin and flexible actuators underneath help it achieve childlike expressions. It's also equipped with cameras in its eyeballs, microphones and tactile sensors embedded beneath its skin. The team thinks that this system will allow humans to interact with it more naturally, compared to existing metallic robots that use electric motors and can be dangerous to get too close to.

The work is part of the JST Erato Asada project which aims to develop an entire robot that's as similar to a human being as possible.
New Scientist