Approaching Behavior Analysis for Improving a Mobile Communication Robot in a Nursing Home

Abstract

This paper reports a study of a mobile communication robot in a nursing home. The objective of this study was to clarify how seniors living in a nursing home react to a teleoperated robot approaching to start a conversation. To this end, we observed a series of robot and human behaviors while approaching and initiating conversation and referred to it as “approaching behavior” with the caregivers to the residents in a nursing home. We then analyzed contributory factors. Based on the findings of the analysis, we designed an approaching behavior of a robot. An experiment was conducted with four residents in a nursing home to evaluate our approach behavior design. The subjects reacted positively to the approaching teleoperated robot without exhibiting fear of the robot. Furthermore, they responded positively when the robot talked to them. On the other hand, a unique reaction of the subjects was found when the subjects approached and made eye contact for themselves while the robot approaching them.