Lantern: A Minimalist Robotic Object Platform

TL;DR

Lantern is a low-cost, minimalist robotic platform designed for human-robot interaction research, enabling easy exploration of social behaviors with simple, socially meaningful forms.

Contribution

We developed and validated Lantern, an open-source, affordable robotic platform that facilitates HRI experiments and education through its simple, extendable design.

Findings

Lantern effectively evokes engagement in diverse HRI scenarios.

It supports applications like emotion regulation and focused work.

The platform lowers barriers for HRI research and education.

Abstract

Robotic objects are simple actuated systems that subtly blend into human environments. We design and introduce Lantern, a minimalist robotic object platform to enable building simple robotic artifacts. We conducted in-depth design and engineering iterations of Lantern's mechatronic architecture to meet specific design goals while maintaining a low build cost (~40 USD). As an extendable, open-source platform, Lantern aims to enable exploration of a range of HRI scenarios by leveraging human tendency to assign social meaning to simple forms. To evaluate Lantern's potential for HRI, we conducted a series of explorations: 1) a co-design workshop, 2) a sensory room case study, 3) distribution to external HRI labs, 4) integration into a graduate-level HRI course, and 5) public exhibitions with older adults and children. Our findings show that Lantern effectively evokes engagement, can support versatile applications ranging from emotion regulation to focused work, and serves as a viable platform for lowering barriers to HRI as a field.