From complexity to commercial readiness: industry insights on bridging gaps in human-robot interaction and social...

This paper examines the evolving landscape of mobile robotics, focusing on challenges faced by roboticists working in industry when integrating robots into human-populated environments. Through interviews with sixteen industry professionals specializing in social mobile robotics, we examined two primary research questions: (1) What approaches to person detection and representation are used in industry? and (2) How does the relationship between industry and academia impact the research process? Our findings reveal diverse approaches to human detection, ranging from basic obstacle avoidance to advanced systems that differentiate among classes of humans. We suggest that robotic system design overall and human detection in particular are influenced by whether researchers use a framework of safety or sociality, how they approach building complex systems, and how they develop metrics for success. Additionally, we highlight the gaps and synergies between industry and academic research, particularly regarding commercial readiness and the incorporation of human-robot interaction (HRI) principles into robotic development. This study underscores the importance of addressing the complexities of social navigation in real-world settings and suggests that strengthening avenues of communication between industry and academia will help to shape a sustainable role for robots in the physical and social world.