Soft robots as minimal stimuli companions.

软机器人作为最小刺激的伴侣。

• 批准号: 2452243
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Bristol
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2452243
• 关键词: Soft; robots; minimal; stimuli; companions.

Challenge:Many people in our society find themselves in situations of social isolation. This is a trend which is projected to continue to increase due to working from home culture and the ageing population. Accordingly, there is concern as the health consequences associated with isolation and loneliness can be costly to the individual and society. High levels of subjective loneliness are associated with greater likelihood to anthropomorphise objects (Shin & Kim, 2020). So, robotic provision of companionship is a high potential solution. Currently, many robots are available in humanoid or pet like form. However, this does not need to be the case. People respond in specific ways to more stripped back stimuli. The Bouba/Kiki effect demonstrates naming associations with particular shapes which are robustly independent of cultural and linguistic background (Peiffer-Smadj & Cohen, 2019). By moving away from the material limitations of hard structures, and form limitations of androids, there is potential to create robotic devices with greater appeal than current models through consideration of tactile factors and shape changing possibilities. Aim:This project aims to identify minimal characteristics which elicit positive emotional affect associated with companionship. Once identified, novel soft robotic solutions will be developed with a view to deliver a viable companion robot product.Method:There are key physical components which could be manipulated for emotional communication. Possibilities within soft robotics are the broad categories of skin, shape, locomotion, colour and temperature. In this project these will be explored through iterative cycles of prototype development and stakeholder feedback.Timeline:Months 1-6. The initial period will be allocated to a thorough literature review. Particular focus will be given to identifying novelty in the companion robotics market and understanding optimal (affordable and innovative) processes in soft robotic manufacture.Months 7-9. This period will be reserved for extensive research into what people want from a companion robot. It is the initial stage of the co-design methodology and will be conducted through a range of research techniques such as interviews, focus groups and workshops.Months 10-15. Six months will be dedicated here to development of a range of low fidelity protypes. These will explore the viabilty of physical realisation of features imagined within co-design workshops. They will also provide physical objects to show people and achieve greater design feedback. Months 16-18. Feedback will be gathered here on the initial prototype range. Special attention will be paid to emotive qualities of the products.Months 19-22. This period will be used to develop a develop a single high fidelity protype based on features selected from previous investigations. This will be developed with attention paid to minimal cost and fidelity to co-design requests.Months 23-24. This prototype will be returned to the people and feedback gathered to inform final product design.Months 25-36. The final phase will be focussed on design and creation of this product. This will be preferably in conjunction with the technology incubator with a view to deliver the robot to the people.ReferencesPeiffer-Smadja, N. and Cohen, L. The cerebral bases of the bouba-kiki effect. NeuroImage 186, 679-689 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.033.Shin, H.I., Kim, J. My computer is more thoughtful than you: Loneliness, anthropomorphism and dehumanization. Curr Psychol 39, 445-453 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9975-7

挑战：我们社会中的许多人发现自己处于社会孤立的境地。由于在家工作文化和人口老龄化，预计这一趋势将继续增加。因此，人们担心，与孤立和孤独有关的健康后果可能对个人和社会造成代价高昂的影响。高水平的主观孤独感与将物体拟人化的可能性更大有关（Shin & Kim，2020）。所以，机器人提供陪伴是一个很有潜力的解决方案。目前，许多机器人都是人形或宠物状的。然而，情况不一定如此。人们会以特定的方式对更多的背部刺激做出反应。Bouba/Kiki效应证明了与特定形状的命名关联，这些形状与文化和语言背景无关（Peiffer-Smadj & Cohen，2019）。通过摆脱硬结构的材料限制和机器人的形式限制，通过考虑触觉因素和形状变化的可能性，有可能创造出比当前模型更具吸引力的机器人设备。目的：这个项目旨在确定最小的特征，引起积极的情感影响与友谊。一旦确定，新的软机器人解决方案将开发，以提供一个可行的伴侣机器人产品。方法：有关键的物理组件，可以操纵情感交流。在软机器人中，可能存在皮肤、形状、运动、颜色和温度的广泛类别。在这个项目中，这些将通过原型开发和利益相关者反馈的迭代周期来探索。时间轴：第1-6个月。初始阶段将分配给全面的文献综述。将特别关注识别伴侣机器人市场的新奇，并了解软机器人制造中的最佳（经济实惠和创新）流程。这段时间将用于广泛研究人们对伴侣机器人的需求。这是共同设计方法的初始阶段，将通过一系列研究技术进行，如访谈、焦点小组和研讨会。六个月的时间将专门用于开发一系列低保真原型。这些将探索在协同设计研讨会中想象的功能的物理实现的可行性。他们还将提供实物展示给人们，并获得更大的设计反馈。16-18个月。反馈将在这里收集的初步原型范围。特别注意将支付给情感品质的产品。19-22个月。这段时间将用于开发一个单一的高保真原型的基础上，从以前的调查选择的功能。这将是开发与注意支付最低成本和保真度的共同设计的要求。月23-24。这个原型将返回给人民和反馈收集，以通知最终产品设计。25-36个月。最后阶段将集中在设计和创建这个产品。这将最好与技术孵化器结合起来，以便将机器人交付给人们。和Cohen，L.布巴-琪琪效应的大脑基础。NeuroImage 186，679-689（2019）。https：//doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.033.Shin，H.I.，我的电脑比你更有思想：孤独，拟人化和非人化。Curr Psychol 39，445-453（2020）. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9975-7