How Robot Comes into Our Life in Urban Public Space: A Participatory Study

Abstract

Urban public space is an ideal setting for robot design, with extensive application possibilities. However, the current consensus of how robots in urban public spaces should interact with people is not yet fully developed. To foster better design of robots in urban public spaces, we organized a participatory design workshop. Through video showcases, brainstorming and collaborative design sessions, we explored participants' attitudes and evaluations of current robot cases. Additionally, we delved into their expectations and requirements for urban public robots within the scenario of shared most interests, along with individual preferences when conceptualizing robots. Preliminary research findings indicated that participants prioritized the practical functionality and emotional connection of robots. From the robots designed by participants, we identified four key design characteristics, providing valuable insights for urban pubic robot design.