Leaks have indicated Apple has an internal robotics team working on building new home products. But now, via a recently published video, Apple has actually offered its own glimpse into what our robot future could look like.Apples team prototypes robot lamp with eleganceThe idea of robots, for me at least, always conjures sci-fi pictures of anthropomorphic beings walking around, talking, and acting very cold and unfeeling.But Apples recently published research paper and video demonstrate how the future of robotics could be much more fun and whimsical than that.In its ELEGNT paper, Apple researchers explain how they built a non-anthropomorphic robot lamp prototype with an expressive design model rather than a functional one.They write:Nonverbal behaviors such as posture, gestures, and gaze are essential for conveying internal states, both consciously and unconsciously, in human interaction. For robots to interact more naturally with humans, robot movement design should likewise integrate expressive qualitiessuch as intention, attention, and emotionsalongside traditional functional considerations like task fulfillment, spatial constraints, and time efficiency.The robot in question, an adorable lamp that resembles Pixars iconic Luxo, is shown performing a variety of tasks with human-like expressions, rather than being strictly functional.For example, the robot is shown exhibiting human-like gestures and responses as it interacts with the Apple researcher.Elegant is the word Apples team used to describe how they wanted the robot to operate, and I think they pulled it off.The full video is available here and shows six primary examples.Preview of Apple robot products to comeLast April, Mark Gurman wrote for Bloomberg:Engineers at Apple have been exploring a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the skunk-works project is private. The iPhone maker also has developed an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around, they said.At the time, many saw the idea of Apple building robots as a bit bizarre. But this new video shows what Apple could have in store.Building personality and whimsy into common, everyday objects like lamps is a fun way to blend humanity with emerging tech.Apples new push into smart home products surely isnt a coincidence.What do you think of Apples robot lamp video? Let us know in the comments.Best HomeKit smart home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel