Behavior fusion in a robotic interface for practicality and familiarity - approach by simultaneous imitations

Abstract

This work proposes a new robotic interface that combines practical behaviors and familiar behaviors for domestic use. Recently, robotic interfaces have been attracting attention in view of their potential for application as intermediaries between complicated information equipment and users. Such an interface requires practical behaviors to execute the user's orders securely, and also familiar behaviors to accept the user's orders exactly. Following the example of Piaget's circular reactions, the robot repeats the user's instructions. For example, when the robotic interface is receiving a guest according to the user's order, it not only goes to the door but also speaks in a friendly manner, "Welcome! Welcome!" and the user naturally thinks that the robot understands the order exactly. Based on this concept, we constructed a robotic interface that combines practicality and familiarity, and studied how to install it in a robotic information home appliance, "ApriAlpha", and how to demonstrate its effectiveness in the UKARI project. We demonstrated one type of behavior fusion, simultaneous imitation, using dummy data.