Testing the efficacy of robot-to-human goal directed actions
Abstract
Robotic technology is rapidly being integrated into human life. One aspect of robotics is as an educational tool to aide humans in learning skills. The mirror neuron system has been indicated in the process of learning motor skills from others and understanding motor goals. Study has shown that humans may have difficulty learning motor skills from non-humans, and there has been little study focused on whether humans can understand motor goals from non-humans. The current study questions whether humans can learn a motor task from a robot and also whether a human can acquire goal understanding from a robotically performed motor task. The current study also posits that the mirror neuron system be considered a strong example of embodiment. Participants viewed either a human or a robot performing motor tasks. The participants then attempted the motor task demonstrated while timed and tracked for error. Measurements were analyzed revealing significant differences in error within group but not between groups. Implications of research are beneficial in the novel combination of the mirror neuron system with embodiment theory and in gauging a robot-human interaction through a motor-teaching paradigm. ^ Keywords: robotics, mirror neuron system, goal understanding, embodiment. ^
Subject Area
Psychology, Cognitive|Engineering, Robotics
Recommended Citation
Baker-Oglesbee, Alissa, "Testing the efficacy of robot-to-human goal directed actions" (2011). ETD Collection for Fayetteville State University. AAI1521451.
https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/dissertations/AAI1521451