Developing Robots for Society

The evolution of robotics has taken us from service-oriented and security applications to social robots capable of building relationships with humans and caring for individuals' well-being. Robots are now engaged in a growing range of social and psychological contexts. Furthermore, technologies like social networks have demonstrated their ability to transform human connections by creating platforms that enable global access to information, the sharing of experiences, and active participation in discussions. As societies grow more interconnected, it is high time to develop “Robots for Society”. The Honda Research Institute envisions robots for society, referred to as embodied mediators, proactively mediating relationships among individuals and groups to create a positive societal impact. These embodied mediators should foster understanding across cultural and demographic boundaries, helping to build communities where diverse groups interact under shared values and mutual respect for differences. This talk will explore various research initiatives at Honda Research Institute, conducted in collaboration with consortium partners, focusing on the core principles that define the roles, operations and boundaries of embodied mediators. Most importantly, the discussion will highlight the development of meaningful and tangible applications that extend these principles beyond theory into practice.