Look to my Lead: How Does a Leash Affect Perceptions of a Quadruped Robot?

Abstract

In this study, we explore graceful robot navigation in shared spaces, focusing on human-robot dyads resembling a dog and its handler. We examine five conditions: “Fully-Autonomous,” “Remote-Controlled,” “Companion,” “Leading,” and “Guided.” Participants observe these interactions and provide feedback via questionnaires. While initial questionnaire results show few significant differences, comparing conditions yields promising insights into participant attitudes toward the robot.

Parth Chonkar , Geethika Hemkumar , Huihai Wang , Daksh Dua , Shikhar Gupta , Yao-Cheng Chan3 , Justin Hart , Elliott Hauser , Reuth Mirsky , Joydeep Biswas , Junfeng Jiao , and Peter Stone