Citizen scientist wanted: participation of social robots in Bottrop

Citizen scientist wanted: participation of social robots in Bottrop

technological progress in the social field

The integration of robots into everyday life represents a future -prone project that not only has technological progress, but also social changes. In Bottrop, scientists from the Ruhr West (HRW) University of Applied Sciences are researching the programming of social behavior for humanoid robots, including "Pepper" and "Nao". These robots are to be used in the lively library to test and expand their skills.

research with the community

From 1st to August 27, 2023, various online training is planned that offer interested citizens the opportunity to actively participate in the research process. Persona of every age group, regardless of technical previous experience, are welcome to get involved. This openness ensures that the project benefits not only from experts, but also from laypersons with different perspectives. The variety of experiences and opinions becomes a valuable resource for improving robots.

an interdisciplinary team

The research team consists of members of several institutions, such as the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and the Evangelical University of Nuremberg, and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with around four million euros. In addition to technical questions, the focus is also on psychological and economic aspects. The project not only supports the technical development, but also illuminates how social interactions between people and the machine can be designed.

robot in the public library

In the period from September 2 to September 14, 2023, "Pepper" and "Nao" will be used in the living library. Visitors have the opportunity to interact directly with the robots. With these field tests, important data and experience can be collected that help the researchers further optimize and make the robots more user -friendly.

The influence of the citizen scientists

Citizens' scientists play a crucial role in this project. Your feedback and suggestions can help to reduce reservations about the use of social robots and to increase your understanding of their functionalities. The aim is that robots such as "Pepper" and "Nao" are capable of supporting users in their diverse needs.

summarized, the project in Bottrop shows how technology and community can work together to promote social innovations. The involvement of the citizens creates an environment in which robots can not only be perceived as technical devices, but as a valuable partner in our everyday life.

(c) Text & Photo: City of Bottrop

- Nag