Finger movements in hugging robots affect user feelings and care
A Study on the Effects of Finger Movements on a Humanoid Hugging Robot
RoboticsHardware ArchitectureHuman-Computer Interaction
Summary
People often want robots to give hugs that feel comforting and caring. This study tested how moving fingers in a hugging robot changes what people feel. The researchers found that certain finger movements, like repeating patterns and fingers moving at different times, made the hug feel better. Moving all fingers together gently made people feel more cared for. However, how much people resisted the robot’s hug didn’t change with finger movements.
What this means in practice
- •For robot designers: Design finger movement patterns to improve user emotional responses in humanoid hugging robots.
- •For therapy device developers: Incorporate specific finger motions in robotic therapy aids to evoke stronger care feelings during patient interactions.
Authors
Daigo Suhara, Tomoko Yonezawa
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the impact of finger movements in hugging robots on users by experimentally investigating how the presence and patterns of such movements affect users psychologically. The results suggest that the presence and patterns of finger movements influence the sensations users seek from the robot; specifically, repetitive movements and asynchronous movements across multiple fingers tended to enhance these sensations. Additionally, simultaneous movement of all fingers and gentle hugging tended to evoke a greater sense of care. Conversely, no differences were observed regarding resistance to physical contact initiated by the robot.