Showcasing Interdisciplinary Advances in Social Robotics at HARU Fest 2022
The Robot Design Lab joined international partners in Tokyo to present research related to the social robot HARU
The Robot Design Lab participated in HARU Fest 2022 , held during October 29-30 in Tokyo and organized by the Honda Research Institute of Japan. The event gathered members of the Socially Intelligent Robotics Consortium , of which our lab is a member, along with academics, engineers, and experts from a wide range of disciplines. Together, participants explored new directions for social robotics in an interdisciplinary setting.
The festival featured a variety of demonstrations highlighting technologies developed and integrated into HARU, the expressive tabletop social robot that serves as a shared research platform for the consortium. These demonstrations showcased how different approaches—spanning design, engineering, and human-robot interaction research—can be combined to advance HARU’s role as a medium for exploring human–robot relationships.
The Robot Design Lab contributed by presenting its ongoing research activities and demonstrating a prototype of a soft robotic neck designed specifically for HARU. This prototype aims to improve the robot’s safety, reliability, and expressivity, enhancing the way HARU communicates with people in everyday interactions.
By participating in HARU Fest 2022, the Robot Design Lab strengthened its collaborations within the consortium and engaged in meaningful discussions about the future of social robots, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary work in shaping technologies that can support and enrich human life.