Affective computing
Systems designed to detect, interpret, model, or express emotion-related signals. A robot that appears empathetic is not necessarily experiencing emotion.
Related: Social robotics · Embodiment
Reference / 04Words for
Words for
better questions.
A plain-language vocabulary for bodies, behavior, AI, data, and the emotional effects that make social robots difficult to describe.
16 definitionsCross-referencedPlain English
Technical vocabulary can hide product trade-offs. These definitions describe how Companions.wiki uses each term; manufacturer language may differ.
A
Anthropomorphism
The tendency to attribute human intentions, feelings, or understanding to a non-human system. Expressive motion and eye contact can amplify it.
Autonomy
How far a robot can sense, decide, and act without direct control. Autonomy may apply to movement, conversation, routines, or all three.
Related: Navigation · Teleoperation
C
Cloud dependence
The degree to which essential features rely on a manufacturer-operated internet service. It affects privacy, latency, recurring cost, and the product’s support horizon.
Related: Local processing · Support horizon
D
Degrees of freedom
The independently movable joints or axes in a robot. A larger number can enable richer movement, but does not by itself indicate better companionship.
E
Embodiment
The effect of giving an AI system a physical body that occupies space, moves, can be touched, and shares attention with people.
G
Generative AI
Models that generate new text, audio, images, or actions. In companion robots it may power open-ended conversation, stories, or adaptive behavior.
L
Local processing
Computation performed on the robot or a nearby device rather than a remote server. Verify which specific features are local rather than relying on a general label.
N
Navigation
The process of locating the robot, planning a route, and avoiding obstacles. Performance depends on sensors, software, lighting, surfaces, and the home layout.
R
Robot-as-a-service
An ownership model where hardware access, software, or support is paid on a recurring basis rather than fully purchased once.
S
SDK
A software development kit: tools and documentation that let developers build behaviors, integrations, or applications for a robot.
Social robotics
The study and design of robots that communicate and coordinate with people using social signals such as gaze, voice, gesture, timing, and personal space.
Support horizon
The period during which a maker is expected to operate cloud services, issue security updates, supply parts, and provide customer support.
T
Teleoperation
Remote control by a person. Some robots blend autonomous behavior with human control, so it is useful to distinguish the two.
U
Uncanny valley
A proposed dip in comfort when an artificial character becomes almost—but not convincingly—human in appearance or movement.
W
Wake word
A short phrase detected before a voice assistant begins processing a request. Check whether detection happens locally and what audio may be retained.