Gesture communication in social robots: A case study of a robotic teddy bear

Li, Jamy

Abstract

Understanding how humans perceive robot gestures will aid the design of robots capable of social interaction with humans. This thesis examines the generation and interpretation of gestures in a simple robot capable of head and arm movement using four experiments. In Study 1, four participants created gestures with corresponding messages and emotions based on 12 scenarios provided. The resulting gestures were judged by 12 participants in a second study. Ratings of liking were higher for gestures conveying positive emotion and with more arm movements. Emotion and message understanding were relatively low, but situational context considerably improved message understanding and to a lesser extent emotion recognition. In Study 3, five novices and five puppeteers created gestures conveying six basic emotions which were shown to 12 Study 4 participants. Puppetry experience had minimal effect on emotion recognition. The results obtained are used to develop design guidelines for gesture communication in social robots.

Citation

Li, J. (2008). Gesture communication in social robots: A case study of a robotic teddy bear. (Thesis). University of Toronto. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4181218

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2025
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4181218
• Other Repo URL: https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/items/d72f42e7-d2a4-40af-afe2-5bd9d38c074a
• Award Date: Nov 14, 2008