[Back]

O. Schürer, C. Müller, M. Hirschmanner, C. Hubatschke, V. Petrova, C. Haider, B. Stangl, C. Tsiourti:
"H.A.U.S. - Humanoids in Architecture and Urban Spaces https://h-a-u-s.org";
Publication type: Research Website, Blog https://h-a-u-s.org, project: H.A.U.S., Humanoids in Architecture and Urban Spaces; 2017.

Mission Statement

May those machines called humanoids, be envisioned as assistive or instrumental, robots reach beyond their intended functionalities as actors in social and spatial human relations. While instrumental robots take care of household chores and other productive tasks, assistive robots provide all kinds of services to the people. Especially assistive robots will enter intimate and private human situations. Some researchers, such as Sherry Turkle, the director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, anticipate robots becoming a social problem. Clinical psychologist by training, she has analyzed machines as "relational artefacts" and fears that people form intimate nurturing bonds with evocative objects, including sensitive robots (or toys). This argument feeds off the much older irrational fear that robots would one day enslave humans, but it does show the need to develop the mediated aspect of humanoid robots. Just like personal computers have evolved from sophisticated calculators to multimedia aggregates, robots will also turn into media as they get positioned amidst human communications. The first steps in this direction have already been taken by Anybots with their telepresence robot, the QB, for example. (A next step in this technological evolution is iRobots AVA Mobile. Conceived to allow for more than just telepresence by offering an open an expandable platform. But) common to this branch of robotic technology is that it misses means to affect an environment by physical action, a core aspect of social actors. (As a development in technology from teleprecence to social action Androids in this project are conceived in environments of future homes and workplaces that are already significantly augmented by technology. Complimentary to the augmented Architecture equipped with sensors and actuators for all kind of reactive functions, an architectural android is understood as the active technical element. While reactive Architecture will watch, perceive and advise the architectural android will investigate, fetch and put up efforts. )
The goal of the Architectural Android project is to develop an application for an humanoid meant to exceed the traditional mediation of mental content may it be symbolic or iconic to the mediation of immediate and direct physical action. A form of presence that exceeds Telepresence typical video and sound interfaces to social presence by fetching elements of non verbal communication like gestures, touch, body language and posture. The robotic machine and the specific control system becomes a new form of media architecture for the embodied representation of an individual person as well as an autonomous actor if desired. As representation of a specific human individual the humanoid turns to become a kind of forth skin or a Media-Me. This social robot of the future will be tested to make use of the empathy effects afforded by the humanoid technology: It can be employed as guides at airports, museums, and other large venues during normal operation as well as emergencies; they can function as Life Coaches for food, fitness but also for personal safety and similar purposes. But they also might function as mediated partners in all kinds of distant relationships representing humans fare away. The central challenge for the research project is to articulate the propositions for humanoid robots as media-agents amid social and spatial human relations.

http://publik.tuwien.ac.at/files/publik_267341.pdf