Can we entrust our pets' care to robotically-enhanced technology? This question was the central theme of a recent study aiming to understand and enrich the dynamic relationship between cats and robots. While it seems that a well-designed robot could be trusted with caring for your feline friend, the research offers a nuanced perspective, showing that the environment the robot navigates, as well as human interaction, also play significant roles.
At the heart of the research is "Cat Royale," a novel project dreamed into life by the collaboration of computer scientists from the University of Nottingham and artists from Blast Theory. Together, they created a multispecies world; a bespoke enclosure where three cats and a robot arm coexisted for six hours a day for twelve days. This innovation-packed installation was launched in 2023 at the World Science Festival in Brisbane, Australia, later garnering a Webby award for its immersive experience.
The research paper titled "Designing Multispecies Worlds for Robots, Cats, and Humans" has since graced the annual Computer-Human Conference (CHI'24) where it won the accolade for best paper. It argued the significance of not just considering the design and interactions of technology, but also the 'world' within which the tech operates. It underscored the importance of human involvement in aspects such as recovery from breakdowns, ensuring animal welfare, and the human role as an audience.
In the "Cat Royale" experiment, the robot arm performed activities specifically meant to satiate the play needs of the cats. It trailed a 'mouse' toy on the floor, hoisted a feathery 'bird' into the air, and even offered the cats eats. Then, an AI was trained to interpret which games the cats preferred so that it could customize their experiences.
Professor Steve Benford from the University of Nottingham, the research lead, stated that while the project might seem merely about crafting a robot to keep cats engaged, it also explores the deeper concern of our ability to trust a robot with the care of our loved ones, and potentially even ourselves.
The research team, partnering with Blast Theory, procured vital insights into robot design and interaction with the feline subjects during the development of "Cat Royale". They achieved creating a tranquil environment for the overlays between the cats and robot arm, even further refining it to accommodate the robot's best chances of detecting the cats.
The research hinted towards the significance of the interior design facet when implementing robots, alongside the necessity for engineering and AI. If you plan to incorporate robots in your home to care for your loved ones, you might need to redesign your home contextually.
Research and design workshops were held at the University of Nottingham's innovative Cobotmaker Space. Stakeholders ganging to discuss the design aspects of the robot were also encouraged to contemplate the welfare of the cats. Eike Schneiders, a Transitional Assistant Professor from the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham, affirmed that creating a system catering to multi-species, required much more than just a well-designed robot.
Disclaimer: The above article was written with the assistance of AI. The original sources can be found on ScienceDaily.
