Abstract
Heart Robot was a public engagement project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The aim of the project was to challenge cultural perceptions of robots, and to stimulate thought and debate in members of the general public around research in the field of social and emotional robotics. Fusing the traditions of Bunraku puppetry, the technology of animatronics and the field of artificial emotion and social intelligence, Heart Robot presented a series of entertaining, thought-provoking, and moving performances at fourteen events in the south-west region of the UK between May and December 2008. This paper presents a summary of the independent evaluation of the project. Keywords: Robot, Puppet, Public Engagement, Social Robots, Science-art collaboration
Highlights
1.1 Backgroundfor Public Engagement Programme, the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) devised HeartRobot - a semi-autonomous robot puppet - to engage the public with the concepts and ideas behind research into emotional and social robots
By 30 September 2008, the Heart Robot project had exceeded its target (601,500 versus a target of 25,200) for potential audiences and intimate encounters (2,812 versus 2,180) and was on course to achieve its target for engaged spectators (7,358 versus 8,200)
The discussion event was a useful opportunity to present the interim findings of the evaluation
Summary
With support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Partnerships for Public Engagement Programme, the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) devised Heart. Robot - a semi-autonomous robot puppet - to engage the public with the concepts and ideas behind research into emotional and social robots. The project brought together creative, artistic and engineering skills, both to develop the puppet and to engage the public. The project created an accompanying website which featured further information about the puppet and the opinions of UK researchers about social and emotional robots. To provide publics a hands-on, interactive encounter with the puppet that will stimulate dialogue and encourage awareness and debate around emotional and social robots. To develop a website and other materials that will enable the public to follow-up their interest. To promote the value of public engagement within the research community and provide researchers with an opportunity to observe the public’s response to their work
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