Social Robotics (SUNY at Albany)

PI Details

Webb, Nicholas nwebb@albany.edu SUNY at Albany Computer Science http://www.socialrobotics.net

Description

The Team proposes to use Social Robotics as a mechanism to deliver a revitalized Computer Science (CS) education. Robots are a fantastic platform for students to learn key CS concepts, begin to program and get immediate feedback, and to learn about both hardware and software, and the interplay between the two. Robotics has a widespread base of appeal to students, academics and the general public alike. A Social Robot is one that interacts and communicates with humans by following the social rules attached to its role. The role and its rules are defined through society.

For example, a robotic waiter would have to comply with established rules of good service. It should be anticipating, reliable and most of all discreet. A social robot must be aware of these rules and comply with them. There are many aspects to the evolution of Social Robots, which need to draw on elements of Design, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Communication and Philosophy in addition to, and in harmony with, traditional Computer Science and Engineering principles. The multi-school team plans to use this proposal to build a community of stakeholders in Social Robotics in the Capital Region of upstate New York. On top of planned regular meetings, and the gathering and collection of information, they will hold four open workshops at a local public Museum, to bring together the stakeholders with academics, students, and representatives from industry and members of the public, to outline a program in Social Robotics.

Audience

CS undergrads, non-CS undergrads

Discipline

Computing in/and sciences, computing in/and engr, computing in/and humanities, computing in/and social science

Pedagogic Approach

Our award doesn't concentrate on an approach; rather it advocates a backbone of competencies and modules based around the core concept of social robotics. How schools use those modules is based on the composition of the individual schools.

Future Plan

Further expansion of our model to new institutions