Humans are considerate and helpful to simple, purpose-driven robots like robotic trash barrels. A paper presented at HRI 2023 this week showed an encouraging interaction between humans and robots.
Humans and Robotic Trash Barrels Interaction
Researchers from Cornell explored the interaction between the robotic trash bin with random strangers in New York City. The study noticed delightful results.
The robots are very simple and are just trash barrels on wheels. They don't have google eyes. However, the two robots are controlled by humans, Spectrum reported.
Those robots differ from autonomous mobile robots that perform slow, deliberate motions. However, the people thought the robots were computer controlled when they noticed that they got stuck, bumped into obstacles, and ignored their attempts to draw attention.
In one scenario, a less experienced robot driver experimented with the controls and moved one robot in strange patterns. One observer exclaimed the robot had to be autonomous as it was too erratic to be controlled by a person.
However, the robots got stuck due to the uneven pavement surface, and people were keen to help them when they were in trouble. Some also moved the obstacles along their way like chairs.
Some people also interpreted the robots' back-and-forth wobbling motion as if they were nodding and agreeing with them.
Additionally, some people expected the robots were expecting them to give them trash. One robot passed and stopped by the same person twice, and she said the robot might have thought she was sitting there long enough and should give it something.
Other people would find excuses to generate the trash to satisfy and dismiss the trash barrel by searching through their bags and picking rubbish up off the floor.
Humans Interact With Trash Barrel Robots in a Social Way
According to the paper, people naturally attribute intrinsic motivation to robots' behavior. They felt the desire to fulfill their purpose - collecting trash.
The researchers noticed that the mental model encouraged the people to interact with the robot socially by feeding the robot or expecting a social reciprocation of a thank you.
Interestingly, the bystanders likened the robots to beggars who prompt for collections and are expected to be thankful for donations. It contrasts with human analogs such as waitstaff or cleanup janitors who offer assistance, and the receiving bystanders are expected to express gratitude.
It remains unclear how much social interaction depends on meeting the trash barrel robots for the first time. It's unclear if the interaction will change if bystanders see the robots regularly like full-time staff. They might treat them more like janitors.
Trash Barrel Robots in the City, by Fanjun Bu, Ilan Mandel, Wen-Ying Lee, and Wendy Ju, is presented this week at HRI 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.
RELATED ARTICLE : Drone Delivery Services Spark Imagination Among Retailers, Consumers, and Packaging Professionals
Check out more news and information on Technology in Science Times.
