Humans prefer interacting with slow, less realistic butterfly simulations

TL;DR

This study investigates human preferences for butterfly robot simulations, finding that slower, less realistic flight patterns are more appealing, and demonstrates how surveys can inform robotic design for better human interaction.

Contribution

The paper introduces a survey-based approach to determine preferred flight parameters for bio-inspired butterfly robots, linking media representations to human interaction preferences.

Findings

Slower flapping and more gliding increase human willingness to interact.

Preferred flight patterns align with migrating butterflies rarely seen by humans.

Realistic butterfly simulations are less preferred by users.

Abstract

How should zoomorphic, or bio-inspired, robots indicate to humans that interactions will be safe and fun? Here, a survey is used to measure how human willingness to interact with a simulated butterfly robot is affected by different flight patterns. Flapping frequency, flap to glide ratio, and flapping pattern were independently varied based on a literature review of butterfly and moth flight. Human willingness to interact with these simulations and demographic information were self-reported via an online survey. Low flapping frequency and greater proportion of gliding were preferred, and prior experience with butterflies strongly predicted greater interaction willingness. The preferred flight parameters correspond to migrating butterfly flight patterns that are rarely directly observed by humans and do not correspond to the species that inspired the wing shape of the robot model. The most realistic butterfly simulations were among the least preferred. An analysis of animated butterflies in popular media revealed a convergence on slower, less realistic flight parameters. This iterative and interactive artistic process provides a model for determining human preferences and identifying functional requirements of robots for human interaction. Thus, the robotic design process can be streamlined by leveraging animated models and surveys prior to construction.