Evaluation of passing distance for social robots

Elena Pacchierotti Henrik I. Christensen Patric Jensfelt

Abstract:

Casual encounters with mobile robots for non-experts can be a challenge due to lack of an interaction model. The present work is based on the rules from proxemics which are used to design a passing strategy. In narrow corridors the lateral distance of passage is a key parameter to consider. An implemented system has been used in a small study to verify the basic parametric design for such a system. In total 10 subjects evaluated variations in proxemics for encounters with a robot in a corridor setting. The user feedback indicates that entering the intimate sphere of people is less comfortable, however a too significant avoidance is also considered unnecessary. Adequate signaling of avoidance is a behaviour that must be carefully tuned.

BibTeX Entry:

@InProceedings{Pacchierotti06b,
  author =       {E. Pacchierotti and H.I. Christensen and P. Jensfelt},
  title =        {Evaluation of passing distance for social robots},
  booktitle =    {IEEE Workshop on Robot and Human Interactive Communication {(ROMAN)}},
  year =         2006,
  address =      {Hartfordshire, UK},
  month =        sep
}

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