Dr. Félix de la Paz López. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) (Spain)
Human-robot interaction (HRI) is an area of growing interest that arises from human-machine interaction (HCI) and human factors engineering (HFE), when we take into account that the computer, in its relationship with people, occupies a space in the world, can move in it and can modify it. That is, to the problem of HCI, the problem of "embodiment" is added.
An important aspect to keep in mind is that the current pretensions of the HRI is not to create an intelligent robot as a human is, but to create a robot that looks intelligent to the eyes of an external observer.
The HRI problem is now focused on replicating high-level cognitive human functions in the robot, which have more related to interpersonal relationships than with the tasks to be performed. The problems that now occupy the HRI have to do with how humans are perceived (gestures, gaze, facial expressions, tone of voice...) by robots, in verbal and non-verbal communication and in affective interaction. That is, in the incorporation of the robot on a social scale as one more actor.
We invite researchers to contribute to the session with breakthrough articles on human-robot interaction, with special emphasis on the use of the perception of human emotions in the interaction with robots.