Personal robots can help people live safer, more efficient and comfortable lives. However, such benefits cannot be achieved if people do not use, or accept, personal robots. The use of a technology is predominantly influenced by an individual's intention to use it, which is influenced by his or her attitudes toward it (Davis, 1989). Presently, the key factors that impact the use of personal robots are not fully understood. Two studies were conducted as first step assessments of the Smarr, Fisk, and Rogers (2013) theoretically-based framework of acceptance of personal robots. In study 1, 14 participants used a personal robot (a robot lawn mower) at their homes for about six weeks. Their acceptance and factors important for acceptance identified in the framework were measured using pre-use and post-use interviews and questionnaires, and weekly diaries. The framework was conceptually validated; participants mentioned 16 of the 20 factors in the Smarr et al. (2013) framework. However, the framework did not fully account for the breadth of factors discussed by participants, thereby suggesting variables may need to be added to or removed from the framework. In study 2, 280 participants reported their initial acceptance of a personal robot (a robot mower) with different levels of reliability and communication of feedback in an online survey. Level of robot reliability did significantly affect attitudinal and intentional acceptance. Follow up analyses indicated a trend that participants who received no information on reliability had numerically higher acceptance than participants who were informed that the robot had 70% reliability or 90% reliability. Neither communication of feedback nor its interaction with reliability affected acceptance. The Smarr et al. (2013) framework explained about 60% of the variance in intentional acceptance and 57% in attitudinal acceptance of a personal robot. Eight of the 15 relationships tested were supported via path analysis. Findings largely supported the Smarr et al. (2013) framework in explaining what impacts intentional and attitudinal acceptance of a personal robot. Results from these studies can inform the Smarr et al. (2013) framework of robot acceptance and other models of acceptance, and can guide designers in developing acceptable personal robots.

Recentes avanços na tecnologia de robôs móveis têm sido direcionados para um novo tipo de sistema robótico o qual é denominado de robô pessoal. Esses robôs realizam tarefas caseiras cotidianas, além de interagir e auxiliar pessoas que necessitam de cuidados especiais. Para realizar tais tarefas são necessárias medidas de interação e programação entre o robô e o ser humano. Essa interface é discutida em diversas pesquisas que evidenciam a necessidade de um ambiente de desenvolvimento de aplicações para robôs com alto nível de abstração e que possua uma interface amigável. Com isso, o presente trabalho vem contribuir com essa nova área de pesquisa através da proposta de um ambiente de desenvolvimento de aplicações para robôs com alto nível de abstração utilizando blocos de tarefas, que se destina tanto a programadores experientes quanto a usuários com pouco conhecimento de programação. Para realizar o interfaceamento com esses dois tipos de usuários, o ambiente provê um módulo de programação avançado que se destina à criação de novas tarefas, e um módulo de programação específico para usuários com pouco conhecimento em programação, com uma interface amigável. No módulo avançado as novas tarefas utilizam a estrutura de uma biblioteca de alto nível de abstração (Java for Robotics), também proposta nesse trabalho. Além das interfaces, o ambiente contém um módulo intermediário, apresentado como Middleware, que manipula todas as informações do ambiente de programação com o sistema robótico ou com o simulador de robôs. Essa proposta de ambiente foi validada utilizando o simulador de robôs Player/Stage com o sistema robótico Khepera. / Recent advances in the technology of mobile robots have developed for a new type of robotic system which is named personal robot. These robots are able to realize domestic daily tasks, interact and help people with special cares. In order to perform such tasks, interaction and programming measurements between the robot and the human being are necessary. This interface is discussed in several research that put in evidence the necessity of a development environment for applications or manipulation for the personal robots has a friendly interface. In this way, the present work contributes to this new research field with the proposal of an environment for robots applications development (framework), with high abstraction level with tasks blocks, designed for both experienced programmers and non experienced users. To make possible the interface between the two kinds of users, the environment provides an advanced programming module and a specific one for beginners. The advanced module allows the creation of new applications or tasks for the robotic system using a high abstraction level considering the robot programming. On the other hand, the module for beginners uses tasks blocks with a friendly interface. Based in an intermediate module, named Middleware, which ma nagement the whole data of environment programming language and provides an output to the robotic system or to the robot simulator, the environment becomes able to support several robotic systems. The proposal of the environment was validate using the simulator Player/Stage with Khepera´s system.

Recentes avanços na tecnologia de robôs móveis têm sido direcionados para um novo tipo de sistema robótico o qual é denominado de robô pessoal. Esses robôs realizam tarefas caseiras cotidianas, além de interagir e auxiliar pessoas que necessitam de cuidados especiais. Para realizar tais tarefas são necessárias medidas de interação e programação entre o robô e o ser humano. Essa interface é discutida em diversas pesquisas que evidenciam a necessidade de um ambiente de desenvolvimento de aplicações para robôs com alto nível de abstração e que possua uma interface amigável. Com isso, o presente trabalho vem contribuir com essa nova área de pesquisa através da proposta de um ambiente de desenvolvimento de aplicações para robôs com alto nível de abstração utilizando blocos de tarefas, que se destina tanto a programadores experientes quanto a usuários com pouco conhecimento de programação. Para realizar o interfaceamento com esses dois tipos de usuários, o ambiente provê um módulo de programação avançado que se destina à criação de novas tarefas, e um módulo de programação específico para usuários com pouco conhecimento em programação, com uma interface amigável. No módulo avançado as novas tarefas utilizam a estrutura de uma biblioteca de alto nível de abstração (Java for Robotics), também proposta nesse trabalho. Além das interfaces, o ambiente contém um módulo intermediário, apresentado como Middleware, que manipula todas as informações do ambiente de programação com o sistema robótico ou com o simulador de robôs. Essa proposta de ambiente foi validada utilizando o simulador de robôs Player/Stage com o sistema robótico Khepera. / Recent advances in the technology of mobile robots have developed for a new type of robotic system which is named personal robot. These robots are able to realize domestic daily tasks, interact and help people with special cares. In order to perform such tasks, interaction and programming measurements between the robot and the human being are necessary. This interface is discussed in several research that put in evidence the necessity of a development environment for applications or manipulation for the personal robots has a friendly interface. In this way, the present work contributes to this new research field with the proposal of an environment for robots applications development (framework), with high abstraction level with tasks blocks, designed for both experienced programmers and non experienced users. To make possible the interface between the two kinds of users, the environment provides an advanced programming module and a specific one for beginners. The advanced module allows the creation of new applications or tasks for the robotic system using a high abstraction level considering the robot programming. On the other hand, the module for beginners uses tasks blocks with a friendly interface. Based in an intermediate module, named Middleware, which ma nagement the whole data of environment programming language and provides an output to the robotic system or to the robot simulator, the environment becomes able to support several robotic systems. The proposal of the environment was validate using the simulator Player/Stage with Khepera´s system.