Handbook

This course will introduce you to the field of Social Robotics and Human Robot Interaction (HRI) by engaging you in movement experiments that develop indicators for sentience and affect. You will explore a robotic technology in its early stages of development, and which is likely to become a ubiquitous dimension of society in our lifetimes, particularly in vulnerable populations. By understanding how our cultures and values both shape and are shaped by the technologies we develop, we can support the development of technology that positively impacts society for the widest possible diversity of people. Within this contemporary social and technological context, you will investigate affective processes in HRI through the lenses of psychology, sociology, technology theory, and ethics. You will design and develop Social Robot movement prototypes in iterative stages, with the aim of generating movement that inspires an emotionally engaging and affective human-robot interaction.