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。由于在家工作文化和人口老龄化，这一趋势预计将继续增加。因此，令人关切的是，与孤立和孤独有关的健康后果可能对个人和社会造成高昂代价。高度的主观孤独与更大的拟人化物体的可能性有关（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，情况并非如此。人们会以特定的方式对更简单的刺激做出反应。Bouba/Kiki效应表明，命名与特定形状的关联完全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，有可能创造出比现有模型更具吸引力的机器人设备。目的：这个项目的目的是确定最小的特征，引起积极的情感影响与陪伴。一旦确定，将开发新的软机器人解决方案，以期提供可行的伴侣机器人产品。方法：有关键的身体成分可以操纵情绪交流。软机器人的可能性包括皮肤、形状、运动、颜色和温度等广泛的类别。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进行探索。时间轴:1 - 6。最初的时间将分配给一个彻底的文献综述。特别关注的是识别伴侣机器人市场中的新颖性，并理解软机器人制造中的最佳（负担得起的和创新的）工艺。月7 - 9日。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，将通过访谈、焦点小组和讲习班等一系列研究技术进行。个月10 - 15。六个月的时间将专门用于开发一系列低保真原型。这些活动将探讨协同设计工作坊中所设想的物理实现的可行性。它们还将提供实物向人们展示，并获得更大的设计反馈。月16日至18日举行。反馈将在这里收集最初的原型范围。特别注意的是产品的情感品质。月19日至22日。这段时间将用于开发一个基于先前调查中选择的特征的高保真原型。这将与关注最低成本和保真度共同设计的要求开发。月23 - 24日。这个原型将返回给人们，并收集反馈，以告知最终产品设计。个月的技能。最后一个阶段将集中在这个产品的设计和创造上。这将最好与技术孵化器结合起来，以期将机器人交付给人们。参考文献peifer - smadja， N.和Cohen， L. bouba-kiki效应的大脑基础。神经图像186,679-689（2019）。https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.033.Shin, h.i., Kim， J.我的电脑比你更有思想：孤独，拟人化和非人性化。中华精神病学杂志，2014(1)。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