Free online program on Human-Robot Interaction

The introduction to Human–Robot Interaction MOOC provides a broad overview of the multidisciplinary topics central to modern HRI research. The courses are available for free at edX.

In collaboration with edX and UCX, I am offering a MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) on Human-Robot Interaction. The Professional Certificate in Human-Robot Interaction consists of two courses that start on September 1st 2021. You will learn:

  • The latest research information on Human-Robot Interaction and research methods in the subject area.
  • How robots work and how to design one
  • What the various forms of Human-Robot Interaction are, including spatial, verbal and non-verbal
  • How robots manage emotions
  • The practical applications of robots and their role in society

Introduction to Human-Robot Interaction

The Introduction to Human-Robot Interaction course provides a broad overview of the multidisciplinary topics central to modern Human-Robot Interaction research and introduces all the relevant background concepts; describing how robots work, how to design them, and the specifics of spatial and non-verbal interaction.

Methods and Application in Human-Robot Interaction

The Methods and Application in Human-Robot Interaction course continues to explore the multidisciplinary topics central to modern Human-Robot Interaction research and looks at the role that robots may play in our society; investigating the real world application areas such as: learning, healthcare, personal assistants, and transport.

 

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.

Keynote Presentation at the JSSR2021 Conference

I gave a keynote speech at the 2021 Joint UAE Symposium on Social Robotics.

I gave a keynote speech at the 2021 Joint UAE Symposium on Social Robotics. This year’s conference took place virtually and we had many exciting speakers. I focused on what roles robots can play during the Covid crisis and why so many social robots fail in the market.

The laws of robotics podcast episode available

A new episode of the HRI Podcast is available:

The Laws Of Robotics

In our previous podcast episode The Good Robot we discussed the difficulty of enabling robots to act ethically. When talking to journalists or policy makers about machine ethics you frequently get the response, well, Issac Asimov already solved that problem with his three laws of robotics. These laws are so seductively simple that most will intuitively understand them. In this episode of the Human-Robot Interaction podcast, Sean Welsh and I will have a close look at these laws and try to understand why barely anybody has ever tried to use them in their robot.