The invention is directed to an auditory robot for a human or animal like robot,
e.g., a human like robot (10) having a noise generating source such as a
driving system in its interior. The apparatus includes a sound insulating cover
(14) with which at least a head part (13) of the robot is covered;
a pair of outer microphones (16; 16a and 16b) installed
outside of the cover and located at a pair of positions where a pair of ears may
be provided spaced apart for the robot, respectively, for collecting an external
sound primarily; at least one inner microphone (17; 17a and 17b)
installed inside of the cover for primarily collecting a noise from the noise generating
source in the robot interior; and a processing module (18) on the basis
of signals from the outer and inner microphones for removing from sound signals
from the outer microphones (16a and 16b), a noise signal
from the internal noise generating source. Thus, the robot auditory apparatus of
the invention is made capable of effecting active perception by permitting an external
sound from a target to be collected unaffected by a noise in the inside of the
robot such as from the driving system.