Program
17 MAY 2024
Pacific Convention Plaza Yokohama (PACIFICO Yokohama)
Annex, North
Room Hybrid North G2
Welcome 09.00 - 09.05
9:10 - 10:30
Session 1 - Frontiers in Robot-Companionship
Chair: Prof. Alberto Pirni
09.05 - 09.25 Paolo Dario (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Italy): Forms of Human-Robot Companionship and their Applications in Healthcare
09.25 - 09.45 Cecilia Laschi (National University of Singapore): Healthcare applications of Soft Robotics
9.50-10.00 Q&A session I
10.00-10.30 Coffee Break - Conference Center 1F/3F
Hosted by Prof. Dario and Prof. Laschi, this opening session will lay the foundational understanding of Human-Robot Companionship (HRC). The discussion will cover the spectrum of interactions between humans and robots and it aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the concept of robots as companions, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges of these interactions.
Objectives: To establish a common ground on the topic of HRC, setting the stage for deeper discussions on technological innovations, ethical considerations, and the social implications of human-robot interactions.
10:30 - 14:00
Session 2 - Technological Innovations in Human-Robot Companionship
Chair: Prof. Toshie Takahashi
10:30 - 10:50 Tamim Asfour (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany) Assistive Humanoid robots
10:50 - 11:10 Gordon Cheng (Technische Universität München, Germany) Tactile Intelligence to Enable Close Interactions for Care
11:10 - 11:30 Tapomayukh Bhattacharjee (Cornell University, New Yοrk, USA) Towards Robotic Caregiving: Building robots that work alongside human stakeholders
11:30 - 11:45 Q&A session II
Session 3
Chair: Prof. Alberto Pirni
11:45 - 12.30 - Posters Teasers*
12:30-13.40 Lunch break (with Posters Discussion), Conference Center 2F, North G3
13:40 – 14:00 Hiroshi Ishiguro (Osaka University, Japan) Androids and avatars as companion robots
14:00 - 14:05 Q&A Session III
Posters selected:
Presenter: Ruby Hornsby, PhD Student, University of Leeds, UK.
Title: I’m friends with a robot. Am I deluded, and is this a problem?
Author: Ruby Hornsby
Presenter: Leonardo Massantini, Post-Doc Research Fellow, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy.
Title: Exoskeletons: Body Invasion in the Workplace Authors: Leonardo Massantini, Alberto Pirni, Paolo Dario.
Presenter: Takahisa Uchida, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
Title: Dialogue Robots Promoting Social Relationships Based on Values
Authors: Takahisa Uchida, and Hiroshi Ishiguro
Presenter: Taiga Natori, PhD Student, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
Title: Examining partner/user factor in learning by teaching for individuals with ASD
Authors: Taiga Natori, Hirokazu Kumazaki, Yuko Yoshimura, Tomohiko Nakamura, Hiroaki Ito, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Yuichiro Yoshikawa
Presenter: Devasena Pasupuleti, PhD Student, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
Title: Snowventure: Improving Elementary School Children's Global Self-Esteem through Interactive Gameplay with a Pro-Social Virtual Robot
Authors: Devasena Pasupuleti, Kazuki Sakai, Hamed Mahzoon, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Yuichiro Yoshikawa
Presenter: Yuki Sakamoto, PhD Student, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
Title: Conversational Robots Based on Values for Trust and User Support
Authors: Yuki Sakamoto, Takahisa Uchida, Midori Ban, and Hiroshi Ishiguro
Presenter: Naoki Kodani, PhD Student, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
Title: Development of Motion Generation System for Android Avatar
Authors: Naoki Kodani, Takahisa Uchida, Nahoko Kameo, Midori Ban, Kurima Sakai, Tomo Funayama, Takashi Minato, Akane Kikuchi, and Hiroshi Ishiguro
Presenter: Kazuki Sakai, Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
Title: Development of an online avatar communication system for easy talking for counseling
Author list: Kazuki Sakai, Sota Yamazaki, Hamed Mahzoon, Hiroshi Ishiguro, and Yuichiro Yoshikawa
This session brings together professors and researchers from the engineering field to showcase the latest advancements in robotic technologies. Speakers will present on a range of topics, including prosthetics, wearable devices, autonomous robots, and the integration of these technologies in healthcare settings.
Objectives: To highlight cutting-edge research and development in robotics, fostering an understanding of how these technologies can enhance human health and wellbeing. This session aims to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical applications, encouraging collaborative innovation.
14:05- 16:00
Session 4: Philosophical Perspectives on Human-Robot Companionship
Chair: Prof. Paolo Dario
14.05 - 14.25 Alberto Pirni (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Italy) The Meaning of Care in the Robot-companionship Era: Lines for a New Ethical Framework
14.25 - 14.45 Toshie Takahashi (Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan) Human First Innovation for Healthcare and Wellness: cross-cultural perspectives
14.45 - 15:05 Jim Tørresen (University of Oslo, Norway) How human-like and interactive would we want a robot assistant to be?
15.05 - 15.20 Q&A Session IV
15.20 - 16.00 Coffee Break Conference Center 1F/3F
Professors and researchers in philosophy take the stage to delve into the ethical, philosophical, and social questions raised by the integration of robots into human lives. This session will explore topics such as the nature of companionship, the ethical implications of autonomous robots, and the impact of robotics on human identity and society.
Objectives: To examine the broader philosophical issues surrounding human-robot companionship, offering insights into how these technologies challenge and reshape our understanding of human nature, ethics, and the fabric of society.
16:00- 17:00
Roundtable Discussion, chaired by the Workshop organizers
16.00 – 16:50 Roundtable Discussion
16:50 – 17:00 Concluding Remarks
Concluding the workshop, this roundtable discussion will feature speakers from all sessions, along with attendees, to discuss the key insights and unresolved questions from the day. This session aims to synthesize perspectives from technology, philosophy, and society, exploring pathways for future research and collaboration.
Objectives: To foster an inclusive dialogue among speakers and participants, encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration and highlighting future directions for the field of human-robot companionship.
This structure is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the field of human-robot companionship, from technological advancements to philosophical inquiries, while also offering a platform for emerging scholars to contribute to the discourse.