Computer Sciences Colloquium - Toward Close Up Human-Robot Collaboration and Companionship

This talk presents recent research projects from the Cornell Human-Robot Collaboration and Companionship (HRC^2) Lab. The lab focuses on the design of robotic systems for human interaction and their study through human-subject and field experiments. We present the design and implementation of a wearable robotic forearm for close-range human-robot collaboration. We discuss usage scenarios, kinematics, bio-mechanical load analysis, and insights from three studies of people interacting with the robot. Then, we will discuss a robot designed for smart-home control through quiet gestures and rituals, and present findings from a study comparing this robotic interface with voice-activated smart-home assistants and mobile applications.