Ranger, an example of Integration of Robotics into the Home Ecosystem

Abstract

This paper presents the concept and a case study of a robject, a robotic entity embedded in an everyday object. Robjects use the affordance of the original object to ensure an efficient interaction and a high acceptance. The example of the ranger robot shows how this approach can be applied to a domestic environment. We explore the integration of a robot (robject) into a family household, by regarding the home as a ecosystem, which consists of people, things, activities, and interactions. Our evaluation study of the ranger robot in families validates this holistic approach and shows the impact of this type of design in respect to the complexity of the robotic system.