Social Robotics: Movement Design for Human-Robot Interaction

This course will introduce students to the field of Social Robotics and Human Robot Interaction (HRI) through movement experiments aimed at developing indicators for sentience and affect.

Social Robotics Movement Design for HRI will explore the history of automata, robots, and cyborgs through science fiction literature and real-world contemporary robotics research, leading to the advent of Social Robotics and HRI. The theory component will track the introduction of various technologies into human society and analyse their reciprocal relationships with a view to understanding our changing relationship with robots.

Investigation and exploration of affective processes in HRI will be explored through the lenses of psychology, sociology, perception, technology theory, and experimental movement prototypes. Social Robotics movement prototypes will be developed over a number of iterative stages, aimed at generating a movement that inspires an emotional and affective interaction.

Social Robotics consists of a series of seminars combined with practical workshop tasks including building and making. Reflective processes will include regular online blog entries throughout the semester documenting creative processes, expression and critical reflection.

Students will be engaged in an immersive and complementary learning environment including studio experimentation, regular group seminars and an online learning community.

Please note that this course will be offered in two modes at various times: as a 2-week intensive unit as well as over a normal semester period. Please check the timetable for the offering mode.