Hardware Podcasts

Episode 133: Creating sociable robot collaborators - Heather Knight

Robot Talk · 14 Nov 2025 · 35m · Episode 133

What this episode covers

Heather Knight, a robotics professor at Oregon State University and leader of the CHARISMA Robotics research group, discusses applying performing arts methods to create sociable and collaborative robots. She details her work on underwater maintenance robots, the 'acted out' method for teaching tasks via kinesthetic demonstration, and using ballet and comedy to explore robot expression and failure recovery. Knight argues for 'hybrid autonomy' systems where humans guide spatial intent while robots handle force control, and advocates for animal metaphors like the 'membrane' to design better social behaviors.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Oregon State University, Carnegie Mellon University, MIT, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Aldebaran Robotics
Products
Pepper robot, Roomba, Cog, Kismet
Also
CHARISMA Robotics

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