COMPSYS 731 : Human-Robot Interaction

Engineering

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Human aspects of robotic systems, including how humans and robots can live and interact together. Cultural considerations around the perception of robots and expected robot behaviours in different domains such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Course Overview

Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) is the study of how humans and robots interact with each other. As robots move out of labs and into everyday environments, this field is becoming more and more important. But the question is how show they interact: from both the technical (how do we build the robot) and human (what do people think) aspects.
This course will examine how we can design, build, and evaluate social robots. The lectures in the course will cover the theory behind HRI and how it can be used during the design and evaluation process. During the labs, we will put the theory into practise and build some social robots and evaluate how people react to them.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from COMPSCI 230, 235, COMPSYS 302, ENGSCI 331, MECHENG 313, SOFTENG 306

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Engineering

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Analyse the design of a social robot in terms of usability, interactivity and functionality (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
  2. Design and implement a user evaluation to test the effectiveness of a human-robot interaction (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  3. Compare and contrast different interaction styles for robots (Capability 1 and 2)
  4. Develop and demonstrate an interaction between a human and a robot for a given scenario (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  5. Critically evaluate the effects of culture on an interaction between a robot and human (Capability 2, 4 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project 55% Group & Individual Coursework
Labs 40% Individual Coursework
Reflection 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Project
Labs
Reflection

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 2 hour lab, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The course will use Human-Robot Interaction — An Introduction for the textbook. This book is available online at https://www.human-robot-interaction.org/.
Additional resources will be provided during the course.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

The labs will be using physical robots; as such, there is a risk of harm. No food or drink is allowed in the robotics laboratories, and the teaching assistant's instructions must be followed. The first lab will include a health and safety induction to the laboratories. If this lab is missed, students will be unable to attend the labs.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

2022 is the first year this course will be running. 

Other Information

This course requires some existing knowledge of robotics and ROS. It is recommended that students have taken or are taking COMPSYS 726 or COMPSYS 732.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 20/07/2022 08:05 a.m.