How Users, Facility Managers, and Bystanders Perceive and Accept a Navigation Robot for Visually Impaired People in Public Buildings

Seita Kayukawa, Daisuke Sato, Masayuki Murata, Tatsuya Ishihara, Akihiro Kosugi, Hironobu Takagi, Shigeo Morishima, and Chieko Asakawa

We investigated acceptance and concerns regarding autonomous navigation robots for visually impaired people in public buildings by conducting three studies; 1) an online survey of bystanders, 2) interviews with facility managers, and 3) a focus group interview with blind participants.

To see the details of each study, please click on the icon image.

Abstract

Autonomous navigation robots have a considerable potential to offer a new form of mobility aid to people with visual impairments. However, to deploy such robots in public buildings, it is imperative to receive acceptance from not only robot users but also people that use the buildings and managers of those facilities. Therefore, we conducted three studies to investigate the acceptance and concerns of our prototype robot, which looks like a regular suitcase. First, an online survey revealed that people could accept the robot navigating blind users. Second, in the interviews with facility managers, they were cautious about the robot's camera and the privacy of their customers. Finally, focus group sessions with legally blind participants who experienced the robot navigation revealed that the robot may cause trouble when it collides with those who may not be aware of the user's blindness. Still, many participants liked the design of the robot which assimilated into the surroundings.

Publication

Seita Kayukawa, Daisuke Sato, Masayuki Murata, Tatsuya Ishihara, Akihiro Kosugi, Hironobu Takagi, Shigeo Morishima, and Chieko Asakawa. 2022. How Users, Facility Managers, and Bystanders Perceive and Accept a Navigation Robot for Visually Impaired People in Public Buildings. In Proceedings of the 31st IEEE International Conference on Robot & Human Interactive Communication (IEEE RO-MAN 2022).