A robot in a cage-exploring interactions between animals and robots

Abstract

Typically, the animal world has been used conceptually by roboticists as a source of inspiration for finding new approaches to efficient locomotion, perception and intelligent control [Brooks, 1991], [Hallam and Walker, 1993], [Aloimonos, 1997]. This paper explores the question of designing a robot to share a space with a simple animal. A series of experiments between a mobile robot and three chickens in a cage are described. Techniques are described to mechanically reduce chickens' anxiety towards moving machinery. A model of interaction between animals and machines is proposed. These insights are then placed into a wider context of robot design.