We started to write on our second edition of “Human-Robot Interaction” to be published with Cambridge University Press and Hanser in 2023. The writing workshop took place in Christchurch and we made great progress. We have a brand new chapter, extension to existing sections and exercise questions for students. Can’t wait for this book to come out.
Blog
Aldebaran Again
Is this the end of Pepper?
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Softbank Robotics sold their Nao and Pepper robots to the United Robotics Group (URG) which reversed the name of this business back to its orginal “Aldebaran”. In this episode Dwain Allan and I discuss the uncertain future of Nao and Pepper based on direct correspondence with URG. We try to answer the question whether you should still invest in this robotic platform. Is Aldebaran another zombie robotic company?
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-024-Aldebaran-Again-TranscriptISSN 2703-4054
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Zombies
Can robots be conscious?
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Are robots zombies? This might seem like a strange question at first, but it leads to one of the most important questions in science today: what is consciousness and can robot’s become conscious? These questions fascinate many people. And when Blake Lemoine suggested that Google’s latest AI Lambda had become sentient, it triggered a worldwide media frenzy. In this HRI podcast episode, I talk with Professor Jack Copeland about machine consciousness.
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-023-Zombies-TranscriptISSN 2703-4054
Important Links
Autonomous Vehicles – Do We Really Know The Risks?
We need objective safety data
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Autonomous Vehicles (AV) are the riskiest form of human-robot interaction. One the one hand they offer unparalleled improvements to the safety and comfort of drivers, passengers and other traffic participants. They also promise to reduce emission. On the other hand, they demand new considerations for trust and responsibilities in human-robot interaction. The field of tension between autonomy, trust and liability can only be manoeuvred on the basis of objective data. Government agencies will have to implement clear obligations and standards for reporting the performances of AVs. This is the only way for consumers to make informed decisions about their purchases and the associated risks. In this podcast episode we will critically review the available data, the market situation and the recent developments.
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript. A full paper with references is available.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-022-Autonomous-Vehicles-Do-We-Really-Know-The-RisksISSN 2703-4054
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Emotions And Consciousness In Robots
The full interview with Douglas Campbell
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In the last HRI podcast episode we talked about the role of emotions for humans and robots. The interview with Douglas Campbell truly inspired me and there was not enough time in the last episode to go into the full depth of our conversation. So here it is, our full discussion about emotions and consciousness in robots.
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-021-Emotions-And-Consciousness-In-Robots-TranscriptISSN 2703-4054
Important Links
- Problems of Philosophy – The Limits of Inquiry by C.McGinn
- Other Minds by Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Artificial consciousness by Wikipedia
The Sad Robot
Do robots need emotions?
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What roles do emotions, affect and moods play for humans and robots? We will discuss how robots can sense, reason and express emotions. Furthermore, we talk about if emotions make robots more human. I had the pleasure to talk with Rosalind Picard (MIT), Lola Canamero (CY Cergy Paris University), Hiroshi Ishiguro (Osaka University) and Douglas Campbell (University of Canterbury) about these exciting questions.
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-020-The-Sad-Robot-TranscriptISSN 2703-4054
Important Links
- Facial Action Coding System – Paul Ekman Group
- Affective Computing by Rosalind Picard
- Geminoid Robots
The Story Of Boston Dynamics
From military robots to beer commercials.
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Boston Dynamics is the rock star of robotics. It recently featured in a beer commercial during the Super Bowl. How did a company that started as a military contractor become a novelty in beer commercials? Dwain Allan and Christoph Bartneck discuss the past, present and future of the company with Robert Cheek and Stephen Hickson.
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-019-The-Story-Of-Boston-Dynamics-TranscriptISSN 2703-4054
Important Links
- CNBC documentary about Boston Dynamics
- The petman and atlas robots at Boston dynamics by Gabe Nelson, Aaron Saunders, and Robert Playter
- XPeng’s rideable robotic unicorn
- Kawasaki’s rideable robotic goat
- Tesla’s presentation of the Optimus humanoid robot
Flaky Conferences and Journals in Human-Robot Interaction
I recently published a podcast episode in which I had the pleasure to interview the organisers of a fraudulent conference that had accepted my nonsense paper. In the meantime, more and more invitations to flaky and potentially fraudulent and predatory conferences come across my desk. They follow the same schema as the Science Horizon Conferences. It is time to start a list. I will try to keep this list updated as new invitation to submit come in. Please contact me if you cam across an event or journal that would qualify for this list.
Flaky Conferences, Symposiums and Forums
- International Meet & Expo on Robot Intelligence Technology and Applications organised by Albedo Meetings
- International Conference on Human Computer Interaction Theory and Applications by INSTICC
- International Conference on Social Robotics by World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET)
- Global Meet Series by Prime Meetings, including the Global Meet on Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
- The conferences by the Institute for Natural Sciences & Engineering (INASE)
- Applied Science and Engineering by Coalesce Research Group
- Intelligent Systems Conference (IntelliSys) by SAI Conferences
- International Liberty Interdisciplinary Studies Conference by Liberty Publisher of Books
- ROBOTMEET2021 and RoboMeet2022 and RoboMeet2024 by Albedo Meetings
- Global Meet on Robot Intelligence, Technology and Applications (GMROBOT2022) by Prime Meetings
- International Conference on SOCIAL SCIENCES (ISCSS) by SWS Society
- International Conference on AI and Machine Learning by United Research Forum
- International Conference on Advances in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence (ASPAI’ 2022) by IFSA Publishing, S.L.
- International Scientific and Practical Internet Conference “Discovering New Horizons in Science and Prospects for Implementation of Innovations by WayScience
- 3rd International Conference on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence by Inov SciTech
- Robot Intelligence Technology and Applications (GSERITA2023) by The Scientistt
- International Forum on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence , RobotForum, ROBOTFORUM2023, organised by the Continuum Forums
- V-Robot2024 – 4th Edition of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence by SciWide Webinars
Flaky Journals
- Lovotics by Omics
- Advances in Robotics & Automation by Hilaris
- Automation, Control and Intelligent Systems by Science Publishing Group
- Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal by ASTES
- Journal of Computer, Journal of Information Science and Systems Science by SCIREA
- Ergonomics International Journal by Medwin Publishers
- Psychology by Scientific Research An Academic Publisher
- Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science by Asia Pacifica Publishers, Peer Review Central, Science Domain International and OA Academic Press.
- Journal of Advance Research in Computer Science & Engineering by NN Publication
- International Journal of Control Systems and Robotics by IARAS
- Journal Of Engineering Research And Sciences with a special topic issue on Special Issue On Multidisciplinary Sciences And Advanced Technology
- Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science by Ms. M. B. Mondal, Ph.D.
- Online Journal of Robotics & Automation Technology by Iris Publishers
Robots in Education
An Introduction to High-Tech Social Agents, Intelligent Tutors, and Curricular Tools
Our new book “Robots in Education” has been published by Routledge.
Robots in Education is an accessible introduction to the use of robotics in formal learning, encompassing pedagogical and psychological theories as well as implementation in curricula. Today, a variety of communities across education are increasingly using robots as general classroom tutors, tools in STEM projects, and subjects of study. This volume explores how the unique physical and social-interactive capabilities of educational robots can generate bonds with students while freeing instructors to focus on their individualized approaches to teaching and learning. Authored by a uniquely interdisciplinary team of scholars, the book covers the basics of robotics and their supporting technologies; attitudes toward and ethical implications of robots in learning; research methods relevant to extending our knowledge of the field; and more.
The Science Beyond the Horizon
How do predatory conferences work?
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Predatory conferences have become a global problem that plagues the scientific community. The Science Horizon Conferences claims to organize ten conference in 2022 in Europe, including the International Conference and Expo on Robotics & Artificial Intelligence. In this podcast episode I investigate this conference and its organizers Shaik Riyaz and Devasai Udarapu. My nonsensical abstract submission passed their peer review process and was accepted for a keynote presentation. I confronted Devasai with this complete lack of academic rigor in an interview. Anton Angelo and David Kaye share their view on this conference, predatory conferences in general and what impact they have on the scientific endeavour.
UPDTAE: It seems that attending a flaky conference is rather depressing.
Transcript
The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.
HRI-Podcast-Episode-018-The-Science-Beyond-The-Horizon-Transript