視覚障害者向けロボット盲導犬への期待を探る
Understanding Expectations for a Robotic Guide Dog for Visually Impaired People
視覚障害者18名が四足歩行ロボットと実際に触れ合い、歩行制御やナビゲーション、対話方法などへの要望を調査した。
著者: J. Taery Kim, Morgan Byrd, Jack L. Crandell, Bruce N. Walker, Greg Turk, Sehoon Ha
分類: cs.RO
原文アブストラクト
Robotic guide dogs hold significant potential to enhance the autonomy and mobility of blind or visually impaired (BVI) individuals by offering universal assistance over unstructured terrains at affordable costs. However, the design of robotic guide dogs remains underexplored, particularly in systematic aspects such as gait controllers, navigation behaviors, interaction methods, and verbal explanations. Our study addresses this gap by conducting user studies with 18 BVI participants, comprising 15 cane users and three guide dog users. Participants interacted with a quadrupedal robot and provided both quantitative and qualitative feedback. Our study revealed several design implications, such as a preference for a learning-based controller and a rigid handle, gradual turns with asymmetric speeds, semantic communication methods, and explainability. The study also highlighted the importance of customization to support users with diverse backgrounds and preferences, along with practical concerns such as battery life, maintenance, and weather issues. These findings offer valuable insights and design implications for future research and development of robotic guide dogs.
