Spatially Distributed Robot Sound: A Case Study

Video

The potential of spatial sound to immerse, guide, and affect humans is well-known, but has so far received little attention in the field of human-robot interaction. In this paper, we therefore explore how a robot emitting spatial sound affects a human’s impressions and behavior. Following a Research-through-Design (RtD) approach, we created two immersive robot sound designs which are emitted across the robot’s body and through speakers in the environment. In an evaluation study, participants interacted with the robot and shared their impressions through semi-structured interviews. Reactions showed that spatial robot sound had a notable effect on participant behavior and impressions, influencing, among others, how much attention they paid to the physical robot and how much animacy and agency they attributed to it. We report on our insights into how spatial sound may provide social robots with new ways to inform and engage the humans around them.