Towards co-creative drawing with a robot

Abstract

This paper describes research into the development of a co-creative human-robot drawing system. Based on a pilot user study to survey the drawing practices of artists, various interaction factors have been identified that define example roles that a robot might take as a co-creative drawing partner. A research prototype system which observes an artist drawing with physical media—on paper—through the use of a drawing tablet and multiple cameras. The robotic system observes and captures data in real-time, as the artist draws. The longterm goal is to generate a data-backed model of the artist’s drawing process, which in future will respond through projected visual interactions upon the drawn surface. The design and technical details of the observational system are described in this short paper.