The influences of sex on the human emotions toward robots

  • Ben-Lamine, Mohamed-Sahbi (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ehime Univ., 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790, Japan (Tel:+81-899-24-7111)) ;
  • Shibata, Satoru (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ehime Univ., 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790, Japan (Tel:+81-899-24-7111)) ;
  • Kanya, Tanaka (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ehime Univ., 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790, Japan (Tel:+81-899-24-7111)) ;
  • Shimizu, Akira (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ehime Univ., 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790, Japan (Tel:+81-899-24-7111))
  • Published : 1995.10.01

Abstract

This paper evaluates the influences of sex on the human emotions while coexisting with robots. When we consider human vision, robot's motion is the most important parameter which influences human emotions and must be well controlled for males and females emotions. On the other hand, when we consider human touch of sense, which is effective for cooperation transmitting mutual forces, the softness of robot is an important parameter for human emotions and must be also well controlled for males and females emotions. From these points of view, at first, we evaluate robot's motion under four different shapes of velocity pattern while handing over a cup to humans. Second, we evaluate robot's softness realized by impedance control. From the first experiment, we concluded that the conditions of choosing an adequate maximum velocity value and locating the velocity peak at the center or the first half of the duration are necessary for male's emotions. In addition, the smooth velocity decrease in the last part of the velocity pattern's duration is desired for female's emotions. From the second experiment, we concluded that females prefer lighter values of virtual impedance characteristics than males and any small increase on the heaviness of virtual impedance values is followed by the negative exponential change on human emotions.

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