TAS for Cats: An Artist-led Exploration of Trustworthy Autonomous Systems for Companion Animals

Schneiders, Eike; Chamberlain, Alan; Fischer, Joel E.; Benford, Steve; Castle-Green, Simon; Ngo, Victor D.; Küçükyılmaz, Ayşe; Barnard, Pepita; Farr, Ju Row; Adams, Matt; Tandavanitj, Nick; Devlin, Kate; Mancini, Clara; Mills, Daniel S.

doi:10.1145/3597512.3597517

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Another study, which looked at designing multispecies worlds for robots, cats, and humans, found that integrating robots into environments for animal care required careful design of both the robots and their surroundings. Therefore, creating adaptive, intelligent environments that cater to all users is essential to ensure safety, well-being, and successful interactions [36].…”

Section: The Context Of Human-robot Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autoethnography of Living with a Sleep Robot

Biswas,

Dooley,

Coulthard

et al. 2024

MTI

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Soft robotics is used in real-world clinical situations, including surgery, rehabilitation, and diagnosis. However, several challenges remain to make soft robots more viable, especially for clinical interventions such as improving sleep quality, which impacts physiological and mental health. This paper presents an autoethnographic account of the experience of sleeping with a companion robot (Somnox), which mimics breathing to promote better sleep. The study is motivated by the key author’s experience with insomnia and a desire to better understand how Somnox is used in different social contexts. Data were collected through diary entries for 16 weeks (8 weeks without, 8 weeks with) and analysed thematically. The findings indicate improved sleep and observations about the relationship developed with the companion robot, including emotional connection and empathy for the technology. Furthermore, Somnox is a multidimensional family companion robot that can ease stomach discomfort and stress, reduce anxiety, and provide holistic care.

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Section: The Context Of Human-robot Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autoethnography of Living with a Sleep Robot

Biswas,

Dooley,

Coulthard

et al. 2024

MTI

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“…The robot, as instantiation of a physically embodied autonomous system, had a potentially tangible impact on the cats' well being and safety. The robot 'recruited' for Cat Royale was the Kinova Gen3 lite robot arm 4 . A small cobot with 6 degrees of freedom, .76 meters reach, an integrated two-finger gripper providing it with a maximum payload of only .5 kg.…”

Section: System Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AI is already changing our world in profound, unforeseen, and ambiguous ways. In this paper, we showcase the artist-led Cat Royale project [3,4]. This multidisciplinary project sits at the intersection between Art, Computer Science, and Animal Welfare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Purr-suit of Happiness: A Tale of Three Kittens. Robots, Humans, Cats, and AI

Schneiders,

Benford,

Row Farr

et al. 2024

Companion of the 2024 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction

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This paper showcases Cat Royale, an exploration of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on animal happiness situated at the intersection of Art, Computer Science, and Animal Welfare. We argue for the inclusion of non-human actors when designing autonomous systems, as animals increasingly interact with them. In this endeavour, we emphasise multidisciplinarity when designing trustworthy autonomous systems. To design, implement, and deploy such systems, diverse voices must be heard. Finally, by highlighting parallels between Cat Royale's animal-robot interactions and human-AI interactions, this project invites reflections on the trustworthiness, risks, and the price we might pay for AI. CCS CONCEPTS• Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI); • General and reference → Design; • Computer systems organization → Robotic autonomy; • Applied computing → Media arts.

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“…We present Cat Royale [8,[44][45][46]52], a creative exploration of designing a domestic robot to enrich the lives of cats through play. A robot, in contrast to non-embodied technology, offers the advantage of physical manipulation of objects in the enclosure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Multispecies Worlds for Robots, Cats, and Humans

Schneiders,

Benford,

Chamberlain

et al. 2024

Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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We reflect on the design of a multispecies world centred around a bespoke enclosure in which three cats and a robot arm coexist for six hours a day during a twelve-day installation as part of an artist-led project. In this paper, we present the project's design process, encompassing various interconnected components, including the cats, the robot and its autonomous systems, the custom end-effectors and robot attachments, the diverse roles of the humans-in-the-loop, and the custom-designed enclosure. Subsequently, we provide a detailed account of key moments during the deployment and discuss the design implications for future multispecies systems. Specifically, we argue that designing the technology and its interactions is not sufficient, but that it is equally important to consider the design of the 'world' in which the technology operates. Finally, we highlight the necessity of human involvement in areas such as breakdown recovery, animal welfare, and their role as audience. CCS CONCEPTS• Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI); • General and reference → Design; • Computer systems organization → Robotic autonomy; • Applied computing → Media arts.

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TAS for Cats: An Artist-led Exploration of Trustworthy Autonomous Systems for Companion Animals

Cited by 6 publications

References 6 publications

Autoethnography of Living with a Sleep Robot

Autoethnography of Living with a Sleep Robot

The Purr-suit of Happiness: A Tale of Three Kittens. Robots, Humans, Cats, and AI

Designing Multispecies Worlds for Robots, Cats, and Humans

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