Development of motion data description language for robots based on eXtensible Markup Language - realization of better understanding and communication via networks

To realize the ubiquitous robot and software avatar society in the near future, the concept of the MotionMedia contents sharing platform is proposed. MotionMedia is defined as a physical communication medium, that includes the actual motion of robots or physical end-effectors, as the fifth medium following audio, text, image, and video. MotionMedia should be valuable to realize better understanding and communication between humans via broadband networks through the support of advanced communication media. To share MotionMedia contents, especially motion data, a motion data modeling and formulation system for human-type robots based on eXtensible Markup Language (MotionXML) is developed. MotionXML leads to specifications to convey and reproduce robot motion via networks. It allows the same set of motion data to be shared by robots that have different structures and control interfaces. An application program interface (MotionAPI) as a common access interface for MotionXML is also developed. It allows application developers to handle MotionXML easily and to develop applications more rapidly.