Social Robot Feedback Motion for User Interruption Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robots used in public settings are vulnerable to interruptions by other users during interactions, leading to incomplete sessions and disrupted services.
Innovation Solution
A robot equipped with a camera, processor, and driver that identifies and responds to user commands, determines interruptions by other users, and performs feedback motions to maintain interaction sessions with the intended user, such as moving to avoid the interrupting user and maintaining a position closer to the primary user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the robot interacts with multiple users in public settings, then the robot's versatility and user service capability are improved, but the robot becomes vulnerable to interruptions and attention hijacking during interaction sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The robot applies preliminary anti-action by detecting the presence of other users before they can interrupt the interaction session. The processor continuously monitors for additional users in the vicinity and proactively prepares to maintain focus on the current interaction subject, preventing interruption before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot uses feedback mechanisms where the processor receives input from the camera about user presence, processes this information to determine if another user is attempting to interrupt, and adjusts its behavior accordingly by maintaining interaction with the original user. This closed-loop feedback ensures interaction continuity despite multiple users being present.
2Ease of operation
If the robot responds to user commands from multiple users, then the robot's responsiveness and service quality are improved, but the interaction session with the primary user is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary action by establishing an interaction session with a primary user and setting focus before other users can issue commands. The processor determines the interaction subject in advance and maintains this focus, preventing time loss from session interruptions while still being able to respond to commands from the designated user.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot applies local quality by directing its attention and responsiveness specifically to the identified interaction subject. While the robot can detect commands from multiple users, it selectively responds only to the primary user during an active interaction session, ensuring that service quality is maintained for the intended user without disrupting the session.
3Measurement precision
If the robot uses camera-based user identification, then the robot's ability to detect and respond to user commands is improved, but the robot can detect interruption by other users
Solution Approach 1:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives camera input about user presence and translates it into interaction decisions. It mediates between the camera's detection capability and the robot's interaction behavior, using the camera data to identify the interaction subject and block interruptions from other users, thereby converting a potential harmful factor into a protective mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes a driver; a camera; and a processor configured to: during an interaction session in which a first user identified in an image obtained through the camera is set as an interaction subject, perform an operation corresponding to a user command received from the first user, and determine whether interruption by a second user identified in an image obtained through the camera occurs, and based on determining that the interruption by the second user occurred, control the driver such that the robot performs a feedback motion for the interruption.