Applications of Vyo

Evaluating how a home robot can best interact with users and help cope with stress

The Vyo robot (left) and phicon (yellow music note)

The Vyo robot (left) and phicon (yellow music note)

I used an Arduino with Galvanic Skin Response and Heart Rate sensors to collect physiological data from participants and approximate user stress level.

I used an Arduino with Galvanic Skin Response and Heart Rate sensors to collect physiological data from participants and approximate user stress level.

As an undergraduate research assistant in Guy Hoffman’s Human Robot Collaboration and Companionship Lab, I helped to evaluate uses for the Vyo home robot. I conducted a user study to determine participants’ preferred type of commands to the robot: voice or phicon (physical icons placed on the robot’s base to give instructions). Additionally, I designed and piloted a user study to determine if animated “breathing” movements by the robot could decrease stress in participants during a stressful public speaking and math assessment.