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Calmbots: Exploring Madagascar Cockroaches as Living Ubiquitous Interfaces

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Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Novel Design Approaches and Technologies (HCII 2022)

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Abstract

We introduce Calmbots, insect-based interfaces comprising multiple functions (transportation, display, drawing, or haptics) for use in human living spaces by taking advantage of insects’ capabilities. We utilized Madagascar hissing cockroaches as robots because of advantages such as mobility, strength, hiding, and self-sustaining abilities. Madagascar hissing cockroaches, for instance, can be controlled to move on uneven cable-lines floors and push light-weight objects such as tablespoon. We controlled the cockroaches’ movement using electrical stimulation and developed a system for tracking and communicating with their backpacks using augmented reality markers and a radio-based station, the steps of controlling multiple cockroaches for reaching their goals and transporting objects, and customized optional parts. Our method demonstrated effective control over a group of three or five cockroaches, with, at least, 60% success accuracy in dedicated experimental environments involving over forty trials for each test. Calmbots could move on carpeted or cable-lines floor and did not become desensitized to stimulation under a certain break interval.

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Notes

  1. 1.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc. in Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development Center for Digital Nature, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Yuga Tsukuda, Daichi Tagami, Masaaki Sadasue, Shieru Suzuki, Jun-Li Lu & Yoichi Ochiai

  2. Faculty of Library, Information and Media Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Jun-Li Lu & Yoichi Ochiai

Authors
  1. Yuga Tsukuda
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  2. Daichi Tagami
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  3. Masaaki Sadasue
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  4. Shieru Suzuki
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  5. Jun-Li Lu
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  6. Yoichi Ochiai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun-Li Lu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Margherita Antona

  2. University of Crete and Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Constantine Stephanidis

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Tsukuda, Y., Tagami, D., Sadasue, M., Suzuki, S., Lu, JL., Ochiai, Y. (2022). Calmbots: Exploring Madagascar Cockroaches as Living Ubiquitous Interfaces. In: Antona, M., Stephanidis, C. (eds) Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Novel Design Approaches and Technologies. HCII 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13308. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05028-2_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05028-2_35

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-05027-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-05028-2

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