Augmented Reality (AR) or Mixed Reality (MR) enables innovative interactions by overlaying virtual imagery over
the physical world. For roboticists, this creates new opportunities
to apply proven non-verbal interaction patterns, like gesture, to
physically-limited robots. However, a wealth of HRI research has
demonstrated that there are real benefits to physical embodiment
(compared, e.g., to virtual robots displayed on screens). This
suggests that AR augmentation of virtual robot parts could lead
to similar challenges.
In this work, we present the design of an experiment to
objectively and subjectively compare the use of AR and physical
arms for deictic gesture, in AR and physical task environments.
Our future results will inform robot designers choosing between
the use of physical and virtual arms, and provide new nuanced
understanding of the use of mixed-reality technologies in HRI
contexts.
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Interaction Needs and Opportunities for Failing Robots
The inevitable increase in real-world robot applications will, consequently, lead to more opportunities for robots to have observable failures. Although previous work has explored interaction during robot failure and discussed hypothetical danger, little is known about human reactions to actual robot behaviors involving property damage or bodily harm. An additional, largely unexplored complication is the possible influence of social characteristics in robot design. In this work, we sought to explore these issues through an in-person study with a real robot capable of inducing perceived property damage and personal harm. Participants observed a robot packing groceries and had opportunities to react to and assist the robot in multiple failure cases. Prior exposure to damage and threat failures decreased assistance rates from approximately 81% to 60%, with variations due to robot facial expressions and other factors. Qualitative data was then analyzed to identify interaction design needs and opportunities for failing robots.
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- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10104790
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the 2019 on Designing Interactive Systems Conference
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 659 to 670
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Conference Paper:
- https://doi.org/10.1145/3322276.3322345
