Scientists at Utrecht University in the Netherlands are endowing a robotic cat with a set of logical rules for emotions, Technology Review magazine reported on Thursday. The idea is that by introducing emotional variables to the decision-making process, scientists should be able to create more natural human and computer interactions. And by bestowing intelligent agents with similar emotions, researchers hope that robots can then emulate humanlike reasoning, the magazine reported. Dutch technology giant Royal Philips Electronics NV is developing hardware for the robot, called iCAT. The iCAT can form facial expressions using its eyebrows, eyelids, mouth and head position. The long-term goal is to use this emotional-logic software to assist in human and robot interaction. Emotions for the iCAT run the gamut, but include anger, hope, gratification, fear and joy. To be sure, other robots been able to mimic human expressions, but researchers are focusing on how the iCAT's emotions might affect decision making.

The project is an unusual one for Philips, which is distracted lately with other things, including the possible sale of MedQuist Inc., a medical transcription company. Philips owns 70% of MedQuist, and earlier this month the Mount Laurel, N.J., company hired Bear, Stearns & Co. to consider strategic alternatives. And in June, Philips acquired U.S. LED lighting group Color Kinetics Inc. for $791 million. —Cheryl Meyer

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Tags: Royal Philips Electronics NV, MedQuist, robotics