The conference took place in Arlington, USA, and consisted of seven distinct symposia, each with its unique theme and focus. As part of our ongoing series, the tenth symposium successfully transitioned to a hybrid model, combining in-person and online elements. We attended the opening keynote, delivered by…
As a psychology student, Patrícia had always dreamed of becoming a therapist. Despite initial plans, she stumbled upon an internship where she experienced a robotic encounter that profoundly altered her trajectory, prompting her decision to pivot into the realm of human-robot interaction. After completing her PhD in the field, she went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher before transitioning into a design role within Amazon’s workforce.
Patrícia has dedicated herself to a wide range of impactful projects during her tenure in both academia and the corporate world. Driven by a passion to craft robots tailored to individual needs, she has consistently prioritized the well-being and protection of the person at the center of the design process. She began by succinctly outlining three distinctly diverse educational programs.
Creativity and robotics
The primary objective of this mission was to conceive, develop, and explore the potential of robots as creative stimulants for young people. Patricia developed a socially intelligent robot, dubbed YOLO – Your Own Living Object – engineered to withstand accidental drops and collisions, as she aimed to empower children to explore their creative potential through interactive play. A machine learning algorithm analyzes the child’s playing style and adjusts the robotic behavior in response, mirroring their actions. Watch a robotic in motion during the demo below.
FLEXI robotic
Patrícia dedicated herself to building. This package comprises a cutting-edge robotic system featuring a lifelike face and a torso equipped with a display screen on its entrance, allowing for customization options. Additionally, it comes with an open-source, user-centric end-user programming interface designed to facilitate intuitive programming experiences. The customisation factor suggests its versatility, potentially rendering it applicable to a wide range of uses. The workforce has successfully deployed FLEXI across three utility scenarios – community support, mental health, and education – to evaluate the flexibility of the system. As you observe the robot, you may witness its movements in various scenarios.
Social eating
The mission focused on developing a robotic arm designed to aid individuals with impaired mobility. Programs designed to assist individuals in managing responsibilities akin to meal planning already exist. In a social setting, however, they typically create a divide between the individual and the rest of the group. Can we explore the possibilities of developing a robot that seamlessly integrates into everyday social situations, such as sharing a meal with family or colleagues? Researchers conducted interviews with individuals experiencing mobility impairments to develop design concepts for robot-assisted feeding systems and compile an implementation guide for future studies in this area. You can learn the details of the analysis paper on this mission.
You will learn more about these three initiatives, as well as the other initiatives that Patrícia has been involved with.
Astro robotic
Patricia has long been captivated by the prospect of deploying robots in everyday life, and the synergies that exist between cutting-edge research in academia and industry applications. Determined to leave academia behind, she opted for the Astro Robotic Programme, finding it an awe-inspiring opportunity to contribute to a large-scale, real-world robotic mission.
The Astro robotic is a cutting-edge domestic robot designed to simplify daily life by performing tasks such as monitoring your home, delivering small items within the residence, recognizing and interacting with pets, sharing engaging stories, and participating in interactive games.
Patrícia guided us through a typical day in the life of a designer, always keeping in mind the bigger picture – the ideal robot and its human interactions. Guided by fundamental design principles, the approach is driven by two primary considerations: the customer’s demands and the non-compromisable essential elements that a robot must inherently possess. As she considers a key aspect of her robotic design, such as ensuring the reliable replenishment of goods on a robotic tray, Patricia employs storyboards to meticulously storyboard potential human-robot interactions. A crucial aspect of design consideration is the edge cases, which commonly occur in real-world scenarios. Effective design anticipates unforeseen scenarios and integrates strategies to mitigate their impact.
Patricia underscored the crucial importance of teamwork in the design process, specifically highlighting the value of interdisciplinary collaboration; by considering design through multiple perspectives, the potential for innovation is amplified.
What’s being discussed at the Synthetic Intelligence for Human-Robotic Interaction (AI-HRI) symposium will be revealed.
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Lucy Smith
is Managing Editor for AIhub.
