User Centered Design of an Autonomous Mobile Robot Vending Machine Concept

Abstract

In this paper a new Autonomous Mobile Robot Vending Machine concept is developed for food and beverages distribution in beaches. The concept was developed and submitted to end users appraisal, in order to capture their perceptions and preferences, and the resulting knowledge guides future developments towards the real implementation of the robot. This methodology, which uses multivariate statistics, is important to bring the product closer to the market. Nowadays this analysis becomes particularly relevant since it increases the Technology Readiness Levels of a new product far beyond those achieved with a technical prototype.