Soft robots as minimal stimuli companions.

挑战：我们社会中的许多人发现自己处于社会孤立的境地。由于家庭文化和人口老龄化，这一趋势预计将继续增加。因此，令人担忧的是，与孤立和孤独相关的健康后果可能会给个人和社会带来代价高昂的代价。主观孤独程度越高，将物体拟人化的可能性越大(Shin&Kim，2020)。因此，机器人提供陪伴是一个很有潜力的解决方案。目前，许多机器人都有人形或类似宠物的形式。然而，情况并不一定是这样。人们会以特定的方式对更多剥离的刺激做出反应。Bouba/Kiki效应显示了与特定形状的命名联系，这些联系强烈地独立于文化和语言背景(Peiffer-Smadj&Cohen，2019)。通过摆脱硬结构的材料限制和机器人的形状限制，通过考虑触觉因素和变形可能性，有可能创造出比当前型号更具吸引力的机器人设备。目的：本项目旨在找出与陪伴相关的能引起积极情绪的最低限度的特征。一旦确定，将开发新的软机器人解决方案，以期提供可行的同伴机器人产品。方法：有关键的物理组件，可以操作以进行情感交流。软机器人的可能性是皮肤、形状、运动、颜色和温度的广泛类别。在这个项目中，将通过原型开发和利益相关者反馈的迭代周期来探索这些问题。时间线：1-6个月。最初的时间将分配给彻底的文献审查。将特别侧重于确定配套机器人市场的新颖性，并了解软机器人制造中的最佳(负担得起的和创新的)工艺。这段时间将用于广泛的研究，了解人们对同伴机器人的需求。这是联合设计方法的初始阶段，将通过一系列研究技术进行，如访谈、焦点小组和工作坊。这里将用六个月的时间来开发一系列低保真的原型。这些将探索在联合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。这里将收集关于初始原型范围的反馈。将特别注意产品的情感质量。19-22月。这段时间将被用来开发一个单一的高保真原型，基于从以前的调查中选择的特征。这将在开发时注意最低成本和保真度共同设计的要求。月23-24日。这个原型将返回给人们，并收集反馈信息，以通知最终产品设计。最后阶段将集中在这一产品的设计和创造上。这将最好与技术孵化器相结合，以期将机器人交付给人们。参考文献Peiffer-Smadja，N.和Cohen，L.布巴-Kiki效应的大脑基础。《神经影像》186,679-689(2019)。Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.033.Shin，H.I.，Kim，J.我的电脑比你考虑得更周到：孤独、拟人化和非人性化。《货币心理》39,445-453(2020)。Https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9975-7

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