Designing a Shared Workspace for Learning Using Augmented Reality and Social Robots

Abstract

Augmented Reality (AR) is a novel technology utilized for merging real and virtual elements, enhancing the physical world. Developing AR applications in Robotics has been of interest in recent years. The current paper proposes a shared workspace for learning using Augmented Reality. The objective is to implement this approach using robots, not to execute collaborative robotic tasks but to establish a collaborative learning environment among students and social robots. We use an Augmented Reality application to superimpose virtual objects to the users’ real world, aiming to achieve joint attention at a common point of interest among humans and social robots. The social robot perceives what occurs in the augmented environment and interacts (e.g., sharing information, making comments and gestures, giving constructive feedback to the users, etc.), intending to support humans to achieve the learning goals of the activities. The virtual objects are approached through AR with the aims and scopes of educational material in a learning process. The environment that this paper describes will be the testbed for exploring and further researching the proposed approach; handling virtual objects as educational material and aiming to joint attention at a common point of interest among humans and robots in this Augmented Reality shared world. In future studies, research and analysis of the characteristics and effectiveness of this approach will be conducted.