Expressing an emotion
Social interaction is often accompaigned by emotions. You wnat to make your robot an empathic interaction for user?
Browse patterns for emotional expressions of a robot.
Giving Feedback
Feedback is an important design principle in interaction design. There are several ways a robot can react to user input. Browse patterns that can be used to let the robot provide feedback to the user.
Communicating robot state
To be able to anticipate (future) actions of the robot, the user needs to understand the current state of the robot. Thus, it is important to make sure that the current state of the robot is always visible to the user.
Browse here for ideas how to express the current state of the robot.
Having a conversation
Conversating is one of the most important tools achieving a successful communication. Many robots are designed to communicate via speech – but how can non-verbal expressions be used to enhance communication?
Browse patterns for conversation-related robot behavior
Communicating background activity
Internal processing of the robot is hardly ever visible from the outside. In these situations, it might be difficult for the user to understand what is going on and what is going to happen next.
Browse here to discover ways to let your robot communicate background activity.
Navigating public spaces
Changes in a robot’s movement direction or speed can sometimes be difficult for users to anticipate. Making these changes transparent helps users better understand the robot’s behavior and intentions.
Browse patterns that show ways your robot can communicate upcoming movement changes.
Communicating a current task
A robot’s current task is not always obvious to people around it. When the robot communicates what it is currently doing, users can better understand its behavior and anticipate what will happen next.
Browse patterns that show how your robot can communicate its current task.
Indicating safety distance
When interacting with a robot, keeping a certain safety distance can be important to avoid collisions or disruptions of its task. In some situations, users may not be aware that they are getting too close.
Browse patterns that help your robot encourage users to maintain a safe distance.
Managing user's attention
During interaction, a robot may need to direct the user’s attention to itself or to specific points of interest in the environment. Clear cues can help users quickly understand where to look.
Browse patterns that show how your robot can guide the user’s attention effectively.
Preventing robot bullying
Robots that operate in public or shared spaces may sometimes be subject to teasing, rough handling, or other forms of disruptive behavior. Appropriate responses can help discourage such actions while maintaining a positive interaction experience.
Browse patterns that help your robot respond to and discourage harmful behavior.
Playing a game
At home, social robots are often used for entertainment purposes. Meaningful behavior can make your robot more engaging and fun to play with.
Browse game-play related patterns.
Pattern Overview
Welcome to the Robot Pattern Wiki!
Discover a wide range of patterns and easily find what you need by filtering through categories or modalities.
Categories
Modalities
Active
Communicating robot state | Composed | General Communication
„I am ready to interact with you and capable of initiating interaction by myself.”
Attentive
Having a conversation | Atomic | Facial Expression | Position
"My full attention is on you"
Attentive towards Surroundings
Communicating robot state | Atomic
"I am attentive towards my surroundings.”
Becoming active
Communicating robot state | Composed | General Communication
"I am changing from a passive, inactive to an active state where I am fully ready to interaction with you."
Becoming inactive
Communicating robot state | Composed | General Communication
"I am changing from a ready, active to a passive, inactive state where I am still available, but not capable of initiating interactions with you.”
Booting
Communicating background activity | Atomic | Light
" I am changing to a state where I am ready to interact with you straight away.”
Comforting the User
Expressing an emotion | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Facial Expression | Position
"You can find comfort in my presence."
Contagious energy
Expressing an emotion | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Movement
“I am strong and so are you! Let’s go!”
Directing attention
Managing user’s attention | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Facial Expression | Movement
“You need to focus your attention on this. It is important.”
Displeased Positive Feedback
Giving Feedback | Composed | Gaming
“I can tell you that what you did / said is correct and I am not happy about it.”
Doubtful
Expressing an emotion | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Facial Expression | Movement
"I am in doubt."
Empathetic Negative Feedback
Giving feedback | Composed | Gaming
“I have to tell you that what you did / said is incorrect. I assume that you are disappointed, and I feel with you.”
Encouraging Good Performance
Playing a game | Composed | Gaming
"I believe in you, and I'll support you to show good performance in the upcoming action!”
Explaining
Having a conversation | Composed | General Communication
“I am explaining something to you. Stay focused on me!”
Getting ready to play
Playing a Game | Composed | Gaming
"I am loading the game. I am looking forward to playing it with you. I will let you know when I am ready"
Gloating Negative Feedback
Giving Feedback | Composed | Gaming
“I can tell you that what you did / said is incorrect and I am glad about it.”
Gloomy
Expressing an emotion | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Facial Expression | Movement
"I am dissatisfied.”
Going to Sleep
Communicating robot state | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Sound
" I am changing to a state where I cannot actively initiate interactions with you.”
Happy
Expressing an emotion | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Facial Expression | Movement
“I am experiencing happiness.”
Inactive
Communicating robot state | Composed | General Communication
„I am currently not engaged in interaction and not capable of initiating an interaction with you. But I am here for you, and I can start interacting in an instance, if required. Let me know if you need anything.”
Indication of Correctness
Giving feedback | Atomic | Light | Sound
“What you did / said is correct.”
Indication of Incorrectness
Giving feedback | Atomic | Light | Sound
“What you did / said is incorrect.”
Input Processing Failed
Giving feedback | Atomic | Light | Sound
“Your input could not be processed.”
Inside turn
Communicating background activity | Atomic | Movement | Posture
“My attention is not on you. I am currently focused on internal processing or nothing at all.”
Joyful anticipation
Expressing an emotion | Atomic | Light | Sound
"I am looking forward to what is coming next."
Joyful Positive Feedback
Giving feedback | Composed | Gaming
“I can tell you that what you did / said is correct and I feel happy for you.”
Listening
Having a conversation | Composed | General Communication
“I am listening to what you are currently saying.”
Lively
Communicating robot state | Atomic | Dynamic Expression | Facial Expression | Movement
"I am alive"
Loading animation
Communicating background activity | Atomic | Light | Movement
“I am currently processing or loading information.”
Not understanding
Having a conversation | Composed | General communication
„I know that you just provided some information, but I do not understand. “
Operation Mode Off
Communicating robot state | Atomic | Light
“I am turned off. I am not connected to a power supply.”
Passively Available
Communicating robot state | Atomic | Facial Expression | Position
“I am here, if you need me. But I will not disturb you, if not absolutely necessary.”
Processing
Communicating background activity | Composed | General Communication
„I am processing what I just learned from you. This will take some time – I will tell you when I am ready.”
Questioning Good Performance
Playing a Game | Composed | Gaming
"I doubt that you will show good performance in the upcoming action. I dare you to prove me wrong!"
Ready
Communicating robot state | Atomic | Facial Expression | Posture
"I can start acting straight away.”
Safety Zone
Inidcating safety distance | Atomic
"This is my safety zone. I'm keeping my distance from you.”
Showing
Managing user’s attention | Composed | General Communication
"I am showing you information. Please pay attention to me and to this information.”
Showing dominance
Expressing an Emotion | Atomic | Facial Expression | Posture
"I feel superior to you"
