NEMO: Need-inspired Emotional Expressions within a Task-independent Framework

Abstract

This paper presents the underlying algorithms of an emotion model within a task-independent framework. This model, called NEMO is a task independent model that integrates a module of needs for emotional expressions. We suggest that appraisals can be confined within various scopes of needs. In other words, the emotion framework allows control over appraisals based on a set of pre-defined levels of needs. This way, the agent is able to sort out his priorities, and express emotions according to his needs. The definitions of the needs and appraisals concepts along with their computations are presented to demonstrate their relations with the emotion generation mechanism in a multi-tasking environment of an autonomous emotive agent.