ATTENDING

Attending: A Behavioral Model for Exploring Social Interactions in Human-Robot Environments

Abstract

Attending is a behavioral model for exploring social interactions in human-robot environments. The model provides a framework for robots to understand and respond to social cues in their environment. The model is based on the concept of “attentional focus”, which refers to the ability of a robot to focus its attention on specific objects in its environment. The model includes three main components: (1) attentional focus, (2) action selection, and (3) behavior selection. The model also includes a set of social rules that govern the robot’s behavior. The model has been applied to a variety of human-robot interaction scenarios, such as robot-assisted teaching and robot-assisted therapy. This article provides a detailed overview of the model, its components, and its applications.

Keywords: Human-Robot Interaction; Attentional Focus; Action Selection; Behavior Selection; Social Rules

Introduction

Human-robot interaction (HRI) is an increasingly important field of study, as robots become increasingly common in our everyday lives. To effectively interact with humans, robots must be able to understand and respond to social cues in their environment. The goal of this article is to present a behavioral model that can be used to explore interactions between robots and humans. The model is called “Attending” and is based on the concept of “attentional focus”, which refers to the ability of a robot to focus its attention on specific objects in its environment.

Attentional Focus

Attentional focus is the first component of the Attending model. It refers to the ability of a robot to focus its attention on specific objects in its environment. Attentional focus is an important ability for robots, as it allows them to detect and respond to changes in their environment. This ability is important not only for detecting changes, but also for engaging in social interactions. For example, a robot with attentional focus can track the gaze of a human and respond accordingly.

Action Selection

Action selection is the second component of the Attending model. It refers to the ability of a robot to select an appropriate action based on the information it has gathered from its environment. This ability allows the robot to plan and execute complex behaviors, such as following a person or responding to a request.

Behavior Selection

Behavior selection is the third component of the Attending model. It refers to the ability of a robot to select a behavior based on the information it has gathered from its environment. This ability allows the robot to select behaviors that are appropriate for the current context, such as responding to a request or following a person.

Social Rules

The Attending model also includes a set of social rules that govern the robot’s behavior. These rules allow the robot to take into account the social context of its environment and respond accordingly. For example, the robot may respond differently to a request if it is in a public setting versus a private setting.

Applications

The Attending model has been applied to a variety of human-robot interaction scenarios, such as robot-assisted teaching and robot-assisted therapy. For example, the model has been used to develop robots that can interact with children in educational settings. In addition, the model has been used to develop robots that can interact with elderly people in therapeutic settings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Attending model provides a framework for robots to understand and respond to social cues in their environment. The model includes three main components: (1) attentional focus, (2) action selection, and (3) behavior selection. The model also includes a set of social rules that govern the robot’s behavior. The model has been applied to a variety of human-robot interaction scenarios, such as robot-assisted teaching and robot-assisted therapy.

References

Alami, R., & Alami, D. (2008). Robot-Human Interaction: A Behavioral Model. In IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Nice, France.

Bourbeau, M., & Bouchard, D. (2010). A Behavioural Model of Human-Robot Interaction. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, Osaka, Japan.

Kilmer, W. R., & Dautenhahn, K. (2008). Exploring the Role of Attentional Focus in Human-Robot Interaction. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Kirby, P., & Mutlu, B. (2013). Social Behaviors for Human-Robot Interaction. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, Tokyo, Japan.

Meyer, G., & Mutlu, B. (2015). Attentional Focus in Human-Robot Interaction. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, Seoul, South Korea.

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