Effects of Prior Robot Experience, Speed, and Proximity on Psychosocial Reactions to a Soft Growing Robot

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSAfter viewing video vignettes of human interactions with a novel soft growing robot, we found that participants reported fewer perceived safety hazards, less anxiety and fear about robots, reduced social hesitancy about human-robot collaboration (HRC), and lower technology-induced fears of job insecurity. Unlike prior research with traditional rigid manipulators, we found that the manipulated proximity of the human-robot interactions was unrelated to any of these outcomes, suggesting closer interactions may be possible without adverse psychological resistance. On the other hand, fear of robots, perceived hazards, technology-induced job insecurity, and robot anxiety were all significantly lower when human-robot interactions were slower. Interestingly, participants with more extensive prior robot experience displayed preferences for faster HRC interactions. Many occupations are ripe for automation within the next two decades, yet technical and psychological barriers to adoption remain. Our research suggests that novel soft growing flexible robots may be a fruitful area for future advancements.