Building Socially Integrated Robotics Systems

🤖 Social robot navigation is a hard research area to define. Even harder is for a new researcher to enter the area.      The problem is that the study of social robot navigation is scattered across different fields like human-robot interaction, robotics, control theory, AI, game theory etc. Each field has its own set of assumptions, limitations, objectives, and techniques. In joint work with UT Austin (Shubham Singh) and CMU (katia Sycara) along with talented undergrads (Abhishek Jha, Andrade, Hriday Sainathuni) , we wrote a survey to lower the entry barrier to new researchers wanting to study this area. It provides a definition for multi-robot navigation in social contexts, a unifying taxonomy, and a categorization of the various methods to solve multi-robot navigation in social navigation scenarios. It complements the excellent surveys already published on the topic. See Section 1A in the paper for a full list. 📜 The preprint is here: https://lnkd.in/gfJRg3cH We would welcome any feedback or comments regarding this work, including pointers to work we may have missed, which we will include in subsequent rounds of revisions. #SocialRobotNavigation #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanRobotInteraction #RobotNavigation #MultiRobotSystems #SocialRobotics #ControlTheory #GameTheory #SurveyPaper #AcademicResearch

Kicking off what is poised to be another exciting year for Robotics and Embodied AI, one of the things I find most interesting about building a robotics company is that most problems need a lot more than just a bot. When you look at what it’s taken to get Diligent Robotics to the point we are today, with a large fleet of Moxi robots operating 24/7, supporting healthcare teams in their daily work. We have done much more than create an AI-powered mobile manipulation robot.  State of the art robotics isn’t enough —it’s about how we integrate AI and Robotics into broader service platforms that work seamlessly within existing infrastructure. Hospitals are complex ecosystems, and for embodied AI solutions like Moxi to thrive, they must fit into clinical workflows, solving specific problems for teams, an perhaps most importantly leveraging as many systems already in place as possible. This approach we’ve taken is about providing complete, end-to-end solutions—more than a robot, a service that delivers real value to healthcare teams. This is the future of AI: not a standalone tool, but part of a thoughtfully designed ecosystem that enhances how teams work. It’s an exciting time to be building these solutions alongside incredible partners like Cedars-Sinai and so many others across the country. Thank you for the opportunity to learn and grow together. #ai #physicalai #moxionthemove #embodiedai #robotics

🤖What happens when cutting-edge tech meets the need for human connection? 🇯🇵 I recently visited Tokyo’s Robot Café, where robots serve as waitstaff but here’s the twist: these robots are remotely operated by individuals with physical disabilities, offering them a means of employment from the comfort of their homes. It was an extraordinary experience that felt like a glimpse into the kind of future that, if designed thoughtfully, can be inclusive and innovative. This café is of course a marvel of robotics; but it’s also a social enterprise that reminds us what’s possible when we integrate technology with empathy and purpose. The robots may be doing the serving, but the human touch is unmistakable in every interaction. As someone deeply rooted in sustainability, this got me thinking about the kind of innovation we need to shape our world. On one hand, technology like this can be transformative, addressing accessibility gaps and creating opportunities for those society often leaves behind. On the other, I’ve always believed that technology alone cannot solve our biggest challenges. Take the climate crisis, for instance. There’s no doubt that AI and automation will play critical roles in monitoring carbon emissions, streamlining renewable energy systems, and optimizing resource use. But can we truly innovate our way out of a global crisis without addressing the human and systemic failures that caused it in the first place? It’s not just about building smarter tools; it’s about building more inclusive systems. This robot cafe is proof that progress works best when technology and humanity work together. It shows us a model of innovation that doesn’t just aim for efficiency but also uplifts communities + one that acknowledges the wisdom, resilience, and creativity of people who’ve historically been overlooked. And this matters in sustainability too. Nature-based solutions, ancestral knowledge, and community-driven practices must go hand in hand with technological advancements. While AI can analyze forests, it is indigenous communities that have protected them for centuries. While carbon capture tech is expensive and energy-intensive, reducing emissions at the source is far more effective. The takeaway? Technology is a tool, not a savior. We can’t rely solely on algorithms to solve deeply human challenges like inequality, exploitation, and environmental degradation. What we need is a marriage of innovation and intention which means a future where robots don’t replace human connection but amplify it, where progress doesn’t leave people or the planet behind. 🌎I am rooting for a world where technology can drive meaningful change without losing sight of our shared humanity + what’s really important - people, communities, connection, contentment, nature and healing. #Sustainability #Technology #Innovation #Inclusion #socialentrepreneurship #climatecrisis #climateaction #AI #Robotics #Futureofwork #Community #climatesolutions #indigenous