Alex Wuqi Zhang: End User Programming Interfaces: Balancing Between Customizability and Robot Personality

In this research, we aim to enhance STEM learning and career pathways for diverse students, especially those from the southside of Chicago, by developing end-user robot programming interfaces that address their unique needs and promote customization and sustained engagement with socially engaging robots. Current robotic products, like Amazon’s Astro, offer preset behaviors that may not align with the preferences of learners from underrepresented communities, thereby limiting their educational impact. We will investigate strategies to enable novice users, such as southside Chicago students, to customize their robot’s behavior while maintaining its socially engaging persona. This approach aims to foster long term curiosity in robotics, computer science, and other STEM fields. To this end, our project will: (1) survey prior work to assess the customizability and personality of existing end-user programmable robotic systems, (2) develop end-user programming interfaces for the Stretch robot, and (3) evaluate our interface through a human-subjects study involving these students. By focusing on the unique needs of underrepresented students, we aim to create an end-user programmable robot system that balances customizability and personality, thus promoting sustainable long-term interactions and cultivating interest in STEM fields among diverse populations. Additionally, the human-subjects study will assess the effectiveness of our interface in engaging students in robot interactions, while also considering the impact of the transitioning economy on participating youth. This research will contribute to the development of accessible, engaging, and effective robotics education for diverse learners, supporting the HMSO’s mission of promoting STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented populations.