2015 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Metamorph robot for deep study in social human robot interaction
| Project/Area Number |
15K12124
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| Research Institution | Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
Venture Gentiane 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (30538278)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
遠山 茂樹 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20143381)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | robotics / interaction / social robot / design |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Development of the upper body of the robot and partial testing
1. We have designed and prepare for the assembly of the upper body (PI and co-investigator): Using 5 ultra-sonic motors, we have prepared the necessary hardware environment the upper body of the robot. We prepare the torso and neck (1 motor), and at the same time an arm with two shoulder joint. We have tested the controllers (PID) with the micro-controllers and the synchronization and synergy of motions.
2. We have prepared to design the outer-shell for the upper body (PI): The outer-shell design takes into account the inner design (skeleton) of the robot to fit perfectly. We use 3D printing technology for that.
We have developped and validated our experimental protocol for testing the system with alternate robots. A simple protocol where 60 participants (to o
btained statistically significant results) were asked to assess the robot in different types of situations with different types of motions.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The preparation for the controller for more than one motor took 10 months for 2 reasons:
1. Intellectual property issues (we couldn't outsource as planned the fabrication of the controller for more than one motor), we could only use a designated technician.
2. The technician was already fully occupied with other project and could only work with us a few ours per week, thus the boards have been delivered in February and March 2015 instead of June 2015.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We will focus on our 3 joint robot (upper body) and prepare for the real testing with participants. Everything is now ready for that.
Different types of outershell design will be tested with different types of motions has suggested in our preliminary experiments.
The design for the upper body will extend from human like to animal like and also non-living like shapes in order to see if the animacy of the robot can bring to normally non moving objects to being liked and appreciated as much as living being like shapes.
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