3 Key Challenges in Designing Advanced Social Robotic Applications

Abstract

Social robotic (SR) applications are expected to advance in the near future, which is indicated by the level of autonomy of SR, and is supported by the maturing of key technologies. However, technical, research-practice communication, and ethical challenges remain in the design of such advanced SR applications. In this paper, we start with our research cases through which we encountered and explored the challenges facing the design practice of advanced SR applications. Then we present an overview of recent design research endeavors in the HRI field and our research cases to demonstrate design research’s characteristics, focus, and approaches. Finally, we discuss how the eliciting, speculative, and communicative approaches of design research can support user investigations with the hindrances of technical limitations, communicate between basic & applied research and design practice, and engage in ethical explorations of advanced SR applications.