Towards Web-based Environments for Prototyping Social Robot Applications

Interest in web-based human-robot interaction (HRI) has grown since it was initially introduced. Similarly, interest in social signals such as voice and facial expressions continues to expand. More recently, researchers have also gained interest in the feasibility of using neurophysiological information to enhance HRI. While both social signals and web-based HRI have seen growing interest, there is limited work exploring potential advances at the intersection of these two areas. This paper describes our efforts to investigate this intersection by integrating: 1) web-based social signal interpretation, 2) hybrid block/text scripting interfaces, and 3) ROS integration via rosbridge. We further discuss potential advantages and current challenges concerning web-based platforms for prototyping social robotic applications.