Conference Paper

Hoffman, G., Kubat, R., & Breazeal, C. (2008)

A Hybrid Control System for Puppeteering a Live Robotic Stage Actor

Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication

Abstract

This paper describes a robotic puppeteering system used in a theatrical production involving one robot and two human performers on stage. We draw from acting theory and human-robot interaction to develop a hybrid-control puppeteering interface which combines reactive expressive gestures and parametric behaviors with a point-of-view eye contact module. Our design addresses two core considerations: allowing a single operator to puppeteer the robot’s full range of behaviors, and allowing for gradual replacement of human-controlled modules by autonomous subsystems.

We wrote a play specifically for a performance between two humans and one of our research robots, a robotic lamp which embodied a lead role in the play. We staged three performances with the robot as part of a local festival of new plays. Though we have yet to perform a formal statistical evaluation of the system, we interviewed the actors and director and present their feedback about working with the system.