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We present FLEX-SDK: an open-source software development kit that allows creating a social robot from two simple tablet screens. FLEX-SDK involves tools for designing the robot face and its facial expressions, creating screens for input/output interactions, controlling the robot through a Wizard-of-Oz interface, and scripting autonomous interactions through a simple text-based programming interface. We demonstrate how this system can be used to replicate an interaction study and we present nine case studies involving controlled experiments, observational studies, participatory design sessions, and outreach activities in which our tools were used by researchers and participants to create and interact with social robots. We discuss common observations and lessons learned from these case studies. Our work demonstrates the potential of FLEX-SDK to lower the barrier to entry for Human-Robot Interaction research. 

Social robots have been used to support mental health. In this work, we explored their potential as community-based tools. Visualizing mood data patterns of a community with a social robot might help the community raise awareness about the emotions people feel and affecting factors from life events. This could potentially lead to adaptation of suitable coping skills enhancing the sense of belonging and support among community members. We present preliminary findings and ongoing plans for this human-robot interaction (HRI) research work on data visualizations supporting community mental health. In a two-day study, twelve participants recruited from a university community engaged with a robot displaying mood data. Given the feedback from the study, we improved the data visualization in the robot to increase accessibility, universality, and usefulness of such visualizations. In the future, we plan on conducting studies with this improved version and deploying a social robot for a community setting.