Human-dog relationships as a working framework for exploring human-robot attachment: a multidisciplinary review

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Ethology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Robotic agents are becoming lifelong human companions, necessitating successful human-robot attachment (HRA).
• Current societal demands for HRA may fail without a robust theoretical framework integrating biological, psychological, and technological knowledge.
• Ethology, the study of animal behavior, offers insights into designing 'ethobots' by modeling inter-species bonds, particularly human-animal relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overview research on human-dog interactions as prototypes for non-human social companions in HRA.
• To review human attitudes towards robotic dogs, focusing on appearance, behavior, attachment formation, and implications for robot-assisted therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of ethology and human-dog interaction studies.
• Analysis of research on human perceptions and attitudes towards robotic dogs.
• Exploration of the role of human-animal interaction models in HRA.

Main Results:

• Human-dog relationships provide a template for understanding HRA due to dogs' social skills.
• Human-dog interactions demonstrate the assignment of emotions and personality to non-human entities, crucial for social robot design.
• Research indicates human attitudes towards robotic dogs are influenced by appearance and behavior, impacting attachment.

Conclusions:

• A theoretical framework grounded in ethology and human-animal interaction is essential for successful HRA.
• Understanding human-dog dynamics can guide the development of effective social and companion robots.
• This review provides a new perspective for interdisciplinary research in HRA and robot-assisted therapy.