Robot’s Eye Gaze Affects Behavior of Human Pedestrian Passing by Robot in Virtual Space

Abstract

In this study, we explored the influence of robot’s gaze on human behavior in interactions when passing each other. Robot gaze affects the distance between subjects and the robot. Therefore, we analyze the distance that the subject takes toward the robot depending on whether the robot’s gaze is present or absent in the passing-by environment, as well as the subject’s gaze data. Using the analysis results, we aimed to evaluate whether the robot’s gaze affects the distance to a human in a passing environment. We devise a design of the robot gaze at people when passing each other. From the experimental results, it was confirmed that the robot does not affect the distance between subject in the passing environment. However, the robot’s gaze attracts more attention from the subjects. Therefore, the design of the robot that gazes at the human at 5.5 meters around the robot may trigger an interaction between the human and the robot when passing each other.