CRI: IAD - Computing Research Infrastructure for Human-Robot Interaction and Socially Assistive Robotics

University Of Southern California, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

Proposal #: CNS 07-09296 PI(s): Mataric, Maja J. Narayanan, Shrikanth S. Institution: University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-1147 Title: IAD:Computing Research Infrastructure for Human-Robot Interaction and Socially Assistive Robotics This project, acquiring infrastructure for socially assistive robotics (SAR), enables interdisciplinary integrative research covering a broad spectrum of human robot interaction (HRI) topics. SAR studies a unique series of problems related to utilizing robot embodiment to provide social assistance to users in a variety of convalescence, rehabilitation, education, and training settings. The infrastructure consists of richly interactive humanoid robot platforms and state-of-the-art data collection equipment. The work enables the growth of SAR, providing grounding for a major area of HRI research by requiring realistic validation with human subjects/users for studies that include embodiment, affect/attitude modeling and recognition, mixed initiative interactions, user modeling, modeling personality and empathy, and engagement and learning through imitation. The facility is expected to produce a large corpus of data that will be made available to the community. Broader Impact: Socially accepted robotics research aims to improve quality of life. Enabling the acquisition of pilot data necessary for NIH funding, this research brings new expertise through an interdisciplinary team that includes CS, EE, kinesiology, pediatrics, and development of disorder experts. Furthermore, the infrastructure impacts human resource development through educational and K-12 outreach programs that reach hundreds of students.