Apple offered up more insight into its consumer robotics work via a research paper that argues that traits like expressive movements are key

Apple has just released a first look at its latest robotic project – a smart robot lamp! In a research paper and accompanying video, Apple has shown off its new Pixar-style robot lamp that plays music and dances to it, projects images, answers questions and illuminates surfaces.

Apple robotics researchers built a playful and charming robot inspired by Pixar's Luxo Jr. desk lamp, and it's hard not to fall in love.

A team of engineers at Apple Computer has developed an expressive table lamp that interacts with a user rather than simply carrying out instructions. The group has posted a paper on the arXiv preprint server describing the factors that went into the development of the lamp and its current features.

Both robots are desk-style lamps on an articulating arm, with what appears to be an LED light, camera, speaker, and projector built in. They respond to gestures and voice commands and have a voice that sounds suspiciously like Apple’s Siri. One of them exhibits a lot of personality.

Luxo Jr. has been brightening up every Pixar film since 1995, when the anthropomorphic desk lamp first appeared on screen and stomped on the animation studio's logo in its opening credits. This character has now inspired researchers at Apple who have developed ways to make robots more expressive,