VR-Based Evaluation of Design Elements for Restaurant Service Robots

Abstract

With robots being increasingly used in the service industry, the importance of human perception of robots’ appearance grows bigger. Previous studies show that a robot’s design affects people’s perception of its characteristics and capabilities. Applying some of the design elements of lifelike robots to functional-looking robots enhances positive perception. However, questions remain about a more specific relationship between individual design elements and human perception. This study aims to explain more accurately which individual design elements positively affect the perception of functional-looking robots. To achieve this, a range of robot design variations was created with individual design elements applied from lifelike designs. Using an immersive virtual reality experience, which allows for more comprehensive and accurate evaluations, design variations were presented to 16 participants, and their perceptions were measured and recorded on-site. The results indicate that people have a more positive perception of robots that look functional but have softer shapes and visual highlights.

Keywords: Service robots, Robot morphology, VR evaluation, Industrial design

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005119