Eye Design of Social Robots Inspired by the Difference of Gaze Clarity in Canid Species

Abstract

The clarity of the position of the eyes and pupils in canid species varies depending on their sociality. Existing social robots, on the other hand, have a wide range of applications, including education, medical care, and customer service, while most of the robots have had a simple design of eyes with a white base and a black iris. However, as in canid species, it is conceivable that the level of appropriate communication intensity varies depending on the purpose of a robot, and that there is a suitable eye design depending on its use. In this study, we propose the appropriate gaze clarity of a robot for three situations where the avatar speaks to the human, the avatar listens to the human's talk, and the avatar is nearby the human during the task requiring concentration.