Distributed agency in HRI-an exploratory study of a narrative robot design

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
• Artificial Intelligence and Agent Design
• Human-Centered Design and Affective Computing

Background:

• Traditional robot design often focuses on a single, unified agent.
• Exploring alternative designs, such as distributed agency, can offer new possibilities for HRI.
• Enhancing entertainment, joyfulness, and comprehensibility in HRI is crucial for robot acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of a distributed agency approach in robot design.
• To create an entertaining and joyful human-robot interaction (HRI) experience.
• To assess the acceptance and comprehensibility of a robot with distributed agency.

Main Methods:

• Developed a service robot, the Plant-Watering Robot (PWR), with a narrative design featuring distributed agency (robotic captain and kinetic elements).
• Conducted an exploratory study in two contrasting environments: a university campus and a care home for people with dementia.
• Utilized a qualitative, video-based approach for observational analysis of interactions.

Main Results:

• The distributed agency design demonstrated potential in attracting attention and fostering acceptance.
• Observations indicated that the robot design evoked feelings of joyfulness in users.
• The narrative and distributed agency approach contributed to a comprehensible and engaging HRI.

Conclusions:

• A distributed agency approach in robot design can significantly enhance entertainment and acceptance in HRI.
• The Plant-Watering Robot (PWR) design shows promise for applications in elderly care and other settings.
• Further research is warranted to explore the full potential and applications of this design paradigm.