Optimizing Human-Robot Interaction: An Analysis of Robot Action Effectiveness in Different Spatial Regions

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of various robot actions in facilitating human-robot interactions across different spatial regions. The research focuses on a social robot, 'Lily,' designed to engage visitors at a smart home entrance. By employing human attention shift and interaction success analysis, we examine the impact of specific robot actions, including head movements and verbal cues, in different proximity zones (central, near peripheral, and peripheral regions). Our findings suggest that dynamic, multimodal actions, particularly those involving body rotation and verbal cues (Action F), are most effective in peripheral regions, where human engagement is typically lower. In contrast, simpler actions, such as head movements with verbal behaviors (Action D), proved more successful in central regions with closer human proximity. The study highlights the importance of adapting robot behaviors based on spatial positioning to optimize engagement and communication effectiveness These insights offer valuable guidance for designing robots that can dynamically adjust their interactions based on real-time spatial context, improving Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) in public and domestic environments.
Keywords: Human–Robot Interaction, Social Robotics, Spatial Proxemics, Multimodal Interaction, Attention Shift Analysis, Adaptive Robot Behavior