Robostudio is a multidisciplinary co-learning space to work with lovely social robots. It is dedicated for educational purposes and the activity is strongly connected to research as well. User Experience in Robotics course runs in this space, as well as social robotics-related thesis projects.
Robotic events can be organized in Robostudio, in close collaboration with TAU students, pupils and students from Tampere schools, and companies. When robotic people don't need Robostudio, it can be used by others as well for inspirational meetings or teaching.
We have several kinds of social robots in Robostudio, for example:
Pepper, who is a great icebreaker in events
Nao, who is very capable of running physical exercise sessions
Alphamini, loved by the kids
Cozmo, easy-to-program, small but efficient mobile robot
Temi Robot, for wellness (contact person: Davide Taidi)
Clicbot, easy-to-program, can have different shapes
QTRobot, a EU safe robot.
We welcome multi-disciplinary robotic activities and projects to work in Robostudio, and we are happy to demonstrate our robots if you want to familiarize yourself with them! For us, inclusiveness, great team spirit, and creativity are values that matter most.
Robostudio co-learning space is located in TC131, Hervanta campus.
Spot is an agile, mobile robot that navigates terrain with unprecedented mobility, allowing you to automate routine inspection tasks and data capture safely, accurately, and frequently.
Furhat Robot is a charismatic member of the RoboStudio team, combining advanced robotics and AI to create natural human-robot interactions. With its expressive face and ability to sense emotions and gestures, Furhat excels in personalized communication. Fluent in multiple languages, it's perfect for tasks like customer service and language tutoring. Furhat Robot embodies the future of human-robot collaboration within RoboStudio, offering endless possibilities for innovation. (Made in EU).
Paro is a therapeutic robot designed to provide comfort and companionship, particularly for individuals in need of emotional support, such as the elderly or those with disabilities. Resembling a baby harp seal, Paro is equipped with sensors that enable it to respond to touch, sound, light, and temperature changes. It emits lifelike sounds and movements, fostering a sense of interaction and connection.
QTrobot is a cute little humanoid robot witha broad variety of expressions that allow using it in multiple scenarios such as education for special needs and in research and education in human-robot interaction. It is easy to program using block programming. (Made in EU).
Misty Robot is a visionary addition to the RoboStudio family, showcasing the cutting-edge capabilities of modern robotics. With a sleek design and advanced features, Misty is a versatile platform for developing customized robotic solutions. It can navigate and interact with its environment. Its open-source platform encourages developers to create unique applications, from educational tools to personal companions. (Made in EU).
Pepper is a humanoid robot created by SoftBank Robotics, and it is one of the most famous social robots in the market. Its cute face and size grasp quickly the attention of the people. Pepper has been used in research and service contexts as a receptionist, ice breaker, information guide, among many others. Pepper can recognize the six basic human emotions and people's age. You can easily program Pepper with Corephrap, a graphical interface where you can find multiple ready behaviors like greetings!
Nao, another humanoid and family member of SoftBank Robotics, is very popular in education as a language teaching assistant and an exercise instructor due to its high-level mobility. It is used in multiple research projects. Nao is also programable with Corephrap. Nao is famous in Tampere University, for its TaiChi lessons.
Alphamini, created by Ubtech, is a small humanoid robot designed for kids to teach them to program using block programming. It has multiple behaviors pre-installed, such as dances, jokes, songs, and stories. Its small size makes it very easy to carry, and its LCD eyes can show multiple emotions. It can be connected with Alexa which makes him an intelligent companion as well.
Alpha 1P, another family member of the Ubtech family, is a highly programmable humanoid robot with high precision servo joints, great for being a sports instructor. Thanks to its PRP (Pose, Record & Playback), it is easy for the user to program the robot's behaviors as they want. It is used for entertainment, education, and research.
Vector by Anka is the cutest robot in RobotStudio. This little robot has an alive personality that engages with people quickly. It is perfect for entertainment and companionship. It can be set up with Alexa, and it can be controlled by speech.
Clicbot is an educational, interactive robot designed for kids and curious minds that want to learn more about robotics, it has endless configurations, each with its movement and personality. Everyone can design and build an endless number of robots and code them using block programming to sing.You can make robots that walk, roll on motorized wheels, slither like a snake, grab things with a claw, and more. Your bots can respond to motion sensors and climb walls with suction cup feet!
Temi is an innovative personal robot designed to enhance everyday life with advanced technology and seamless functionality. Standing tall with a sleek, minimalist design, Temi integrates cutting-edge features to serve as a versatile assistant in various environments. With its autonomous navigation capabilities, Temi effortlessly moves around homes, offices, or public spaces, facilitating tasks and interactions.
Equipped with a high-definition touchscreen interface, Temi enables intuitive communication through voice commands, video calls, and multimedia playback. Its AI-driven capabilities allow users to access information, manage schedules, control smart home devices, and even provide entertainment, all with simple voice prompts.
Temi's adaptability extends to its ability to serve as a telepresence robot, enabling remote communication and presence through its video conferencing capabilities and mobility. Whether used for personal assistance, productivity enhancement, or remote collaboration, Temi embodies the future of robotics by seamlessly integrating into daily life with intelligence and efficiency.
1. Ahtinen, A. (2022). Sosiaaliset robotit oppimisen tukena lapsilla ja aikuisilla. Kieli, koulutus ja yhteiskunta, 13(1).
2. Ahmed, E., & Ahtinen, A. (2021, November). Design Implications for a Virtual Language Learning Companion Robot: Considering the Appearance, Interaction and Rewarding Behavior. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction (pp. 56-65).
3. Kouri, S., Köpman, E., Ahtinen, A., & Ramirez Millan, V. (2020, November). Customized Robot-Assisted Language Learning to Support Immigrants at Work: Findings and Insights from a Qualitative User Experience Study. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction (pp. 212-220).
4. Ahtinen, A., & Kaipainen, K. (2020, April). Learning and teaching experiences with a persuasive social robot in primary school–findings and implications from a 4-month field study. In International Conference on Persuasive Technology (pp. 73-84). Springer, Cham.
UX Robotics tool
The UX robotics tool was designed to support robotics designers in designing and evaluating different robotics projects. The tool provides examples of interaction techniques in social robots for designers to understand the multiple channels a social robot has to communicate with users. Additionally, the tool has a set of observation and interview cards that helps to conduct user evaluation in Human-Robot Interaction.
The tools have three different modalities.
First is the digital interface. Here the designers can find the interactive tool directly from a computer or tablet and see the different robot modalities and the observation and the evaluation cards through graphics.
The tool is also accessible through Pepper. Supported by the screen and the embodiment of the robot, the different interaction modalities are displayed, and the designers can get access to the cards as well.
Finally, the physical cards deck with the observations and evaluation cards. This version of the tool is especially valuable for meetings and workshops where all the participants are present in the same room and planing the user evaluation.
Projects
In Robostudio there is always something happening, check out our most recent projects!
