Robots in the wild:
contextually-adaptive human-robot interactions in urban public environments
Sunday 3 December, 9:00am-12:15pm
About:
The increasing transition of human-robot interaction (HRI) context from controlled settings to dynamic, real-world public environments calls for enhanced adaptability in robotic systems. This can go beyond algorithmic navigation or traditional HRI strategies in structured settings, requiring the ability to navigate complex public urban systems containing multifaceted dynamics and various socio-technical needs. Therefore, our proposed workshop seeks to extend the boundaries of adaptive HRI research beyond predictable, semi-structured contexts and highlight opportunities for adaptable robot interactions in urban public environments.
This half-day workshop aims to explore design opportunities and challenges in creating contextually-adaptive HRI within these spaces and establish a network of interested parties within the OzCHI research community. By fostering ongoing discussions, sharing of insights, and collaborations, we aim to catalyse future research that empowers robots to navigate the inherent uncertainties and complexities of real-world public interactions.
Workshop Agenda:
9:00 - 9:10 AM
9:10 - 9:30 AM
9:30 - 10:00 AM
10:00 - 11:00AM
11:00 - 11:45 AM
11:45-12:15AM
Welcome and Opening: Workshop Overview and Welcome
Keynote Speak: "Out there with us" from A/Prof.Maria Luce Lupetti
Ice-break and Activity Brief
City Walk Reflection Activity
Open Discussion: Participants will reflect on the previous activity and engage in high-level discussion regarding the opportunities and challenges in adaptive HRI in urban public contexts.
Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks
Keynote Speak: Out there with us
A/Prof. Maria Luce Lupetti
Maria Luce Lupetti is an Assistant Professor in Interaction and Critical Design at the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft (NL). Her research, at the intersection of design, ethics, AI and robotics, is focused on promoting critical perspectives in technology development. She is also a core member of the AiTech Initiative on Meaningful Human Control over AI Systems, a member of the Dutch Social Justice and AI network, and serves as Exhibit X section editor for Interactions Mag.
Join the Workshop
Participants are invited to capture scenarios where a robot needs to adapt to the context, using a cultural probe kit provided by us (physically mailed), and upload a photo to a public Padlet board.
If you're interested in joining, please fill out this form. The organising team will contact you for the next steps, or contact us directly xinyan.yu@sydney.edu.au
Workshop Organising Team
Xinyan Yu
Xinyan Yu is a PhD candidate in the Design Lab at the University of Sydney’s School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. Her research centres around human-robot collaboration in urban settings, exploring bystanders’ pro-social behaviours towards robots.
Yiyuan Wang
is a PhD candidate in the Design Lab at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. Her current research focuses on designing and prototyping human-machine interfaces to support autonomous vehicle/robot-pedestrian interactions in social traffic environments.
Tram Thi Minh Tran
is a PhD candidate in the Design Lab at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. Her research investigates the intricate interactions between pedestrians and autonomous vehicles in complex traffic scenarios involving multiple road users.
Yi Zhao
is a PhD candidate in the Robotic Lab at the University of Sydney. His work focuses on constructing a new design framework for human-robot collaboration (HRC) tasks and aims at inspiring designers to explore the characteristics of robotic behaviour and interaction.
Yi Zhao
Dr. Martin Tomitsch
is a Professor and Head of the Transdisciplinary School at the University of Technology Sydney, and a founding member of the Media Architecture Institute, the Urban Interfaces Lab, and the Life-centred Design Collective. He works at the intersection of design and technology with a focus on cities and responsible innovation.
Dr. Marius Hoggenmüller
is a Lecturer in Interaction Design in the Design Lab at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. His work focuses on prototyping interactions with emerging technologies in cities, such as urban robots and autonomous systems.
Dr. Callum Parker
is a Lecturer in Interaction Design at the Urban Interfaces Lab in the University of Sydney’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning. His research seeks to gain new understanding of interactive digital city interfaces and their place within urban environments, contributing towards smarter cities.
Dr. Stewart Worrall
is a Senior Research Fellow, and leads the Intelligent Transportation Systems group at the Australian Centre for Robotics which is part of the University of Sydney. His research aims to track and predict the intentions of drivers and pedestrians, and better understand how this can be used to improve the way that vehicles interact with people.
Dr. Julie Stephany Berrio Perez
holds the position of Research Associate at the Australian Centre for Robotics, which is affiliated with the University of Sydney. Her research is primarily centred around perception, mapping, and digital twins, specifically focusing on their application in vehicular technology.
Dr. Lian Loke
is an Associate Professor in the Design Lab at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. She brings a choreographic and somaesthetic approach to staging and studying interactions with people and machines in artistic, domestic and public contexts.
Dr. Justine Humphry
is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures in the Discipline of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney. Her research examines the cultures and politics of mobile and digital media in everyday life, with a focus on the digital experiences and challenges of under-represented and excluded communities.
Lynn Masuda
is a Robotics Prototyping Officer in the Design, Modelling and Fabrication Lab (DMaF Lab) at The University of Sydney. Her work involves training students, academic research and task programming with industrial and collaborative robotic arms for design, architecture and construction processes.
Workshop Venue
Victoria University Architecture and Design building at 139 Vivian Street, Wellington.