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Saying It with Light: A Pilot Study of Affective Communication Using the MIRO Robot

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Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems (Living Machines 2015)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 9222))

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Abstract

Recently, the concept of a ‘companion robot’ as a healthcare tool has been popularised, and even commercialised. We present MIRO, a robot that is biomimetic in aesthetics, morphology, behaviour, and control architecture. In this paper, we review how these design choices affect its suitability for a companionship role. In particular, we consider how emulation of the familiar body language and other emotional expressions of mammals may facilitate effective communication with naïve users through the reliable evocation of intended perceptions of emotional state and intent. We go on to present a brief pilot study addressing the question of whether shared cultural signals can be relied upon, similarly, as components of communication systems for companion robots. Such studies form part of our ongoing effort to understand and quantify human responses to robot expressive behaviour and, thereby, develop a methodology for optimising the design of social robots by accounting for individual and cultural differences.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University Of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Emily C. Collins, Tony J. Prescott & Ben Mitchinson

Authors
  1. Emily C. Collins
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  2. Tony J. Prescott
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  3. Ben Mitchinson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emily C. Collins .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Stuart P. Wilson

  2. Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Paul F.M.J. Verschure

  3. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Anna Mura

  4. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Tony J. Prescott

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Collins, E.C., Prescott, T.J., Mitchinson, B. (2015). Saying It with Light: A Pilot Study of Affective Communication Using the MIRO Robot. In: Wilson, S., Verschure, P., Mura, A., Prescott, T. (eds) Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems. Living Machines 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9222. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22979-9_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22979-9_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-22978-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-22979-9

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