Robotic arts: Current practices, potentials, and implications

Given that the origin of the “robot” comes from efforts to create a worker to help people, there has been relatively little research on making a robot for non-work purposes. However, some researchers have explored robotic arts since Leonardo da Vinci. Many questions can be posed regarding the potentials of robotic arts: (1) Is there anything we can call machine-creativity? (2) Can robots improvise artworks on the fly? and (3) Can art robots pass the Turing test? To ponder these questions and see the current status quo of robotic arts, the present paper surveys the contributions of robotics in diverse forms of arts, including drawing, theater, music, and dance. The present paper describes selective projects in each genre, core procedure, possibilities and limitations within the aesthetic computing framework. Then, the paper discusses implications of these robotic arts in terms of both robot research and art research, followed by conclusions including answers to the questions posed at the outset

Blueprint of the auditory interactions in automated vehicles: report on the workshop and tutorial

Vehicle automation is becoming more widespread. As automation increases, new opportunities and challenges have emerged. Given that vision is heavily taxed in driving, much research has been conducted on an auditory channel. To identify new design spaces and solutions, we have organized successive workshops and tutorial at International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) and AutoUI Conference for several years. In this report, we address novel opportunities and directions of auditory interactions in automated vehicles that we have discussed in the workshop and tutorial to design better driver user experience and secure road safety

Robot-assisted socio-emotional intervention framework for children with Autism Spectrum disorder

This paper presents a novel robot-assisted intervention framework designed to target sensory processing and emotion regulation difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder. Three types of systems are utilized to provide scalable robotic interactions with gesture-based and character-based socio-emotional expressions. The intervention framework includes (1) an emotional interaction and regulation game in mobile computing settings, (2) interactive robotic sessions with socio-emotional scenarios, and (3) gesture identification games to measure emotion processing and verbal skills in socio-emotional settings. This paper also presents preliminary results obtained from a pilot study conducted to evaluate the three interventions

Robot Opera: A modularized afterschool program for STEAM education at local elementary school

The importance of STEM education has consistently increased. Recently, it has been updated to “STEAM”, by adding art and design to the equation. To promote STEAM education using robots, we have devised the “Robot Opera” program at a local elementary school, by extending our earlier child-robot theater program. After introducing our pedagogical approach, we outline our ongoing program, composed of four modules: acting, dancing, sonifying, and drawing. We hope this work-in-progress paper can facilitate discussions on how to use robots in informal learning environments