Thursday 29 September 2022 10:38 AM Robot dogs could be taught to mimic behaviours of real canines to make them ... trends now
The number of photos on social media of puppy dog eyes and 'zoomies' just goes to show how much we love everything our furry friends do.
So much so that robot dogs could be taught our favourite canine quirks in order to make them more realistic - and loveable.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow and Western Sydney University have identified seven categories of dog behaviours that owners perceive as important for bonding with their pets.
These include 'Physical Touch' and 'Enthusiasm', with examples like resting their head on their master and giving them 'kisses' when they come home.
Neuroscientist Professor Emily Cross said: 'We know that human and pet connections have great benefits, knowing what qualities lead to these positive outcomes could help with the development of robots that can also portray these qualities.
'Understanding the reasons why humans find four-legged friends to be so loveable is pivotal in creating pet-like technologies that replicate the real thing, leading to better mental and emotional health outcomes within certain groups.'
While creating a convincing robot pooch may seem simpler than a robot human, it still requires a deep understanding of the dog behaviours that facilitate human-dog bonds (stock image)
Researchers have identified seven categories of dog behaviours that owners perceive as important for bonding with their pets. Pictured: Dogs gazing at their owners, which survey participants perceived as a demonstration of their bond
Participants were asked open-ended questions about which dog behaviours they felt were especially important in establishing and maintaining their bond with their pet. They described a wide range of behaviours that they perceived as indicators of a strong human-dog bond. Pictured: Overview of the dog behaviours identified in the survey, how they are perceived by the owner and the categories they fall into
Robots that exhibit social behaviours have been proposed as a potential solution to loneliness, and as assistants to the elderly.
However, there are challenges in programming all the nuances of humanity to create a convincing humanoid bot.
As an alternative, some researchers are exploring the possibility of developing dog-inspired robots that can form similar bonds with people.
While creating a convincing robot pooch may sound simpler, it still requires a deep understanding of specific dog behaviours that facilitate human-dog bonds.
To gain insight into these bonds and what plays a hand in forming them, Professor Cross and colleagues surveyed 153 dog owners.
Participants were asked open-ended questions about which dog behaviours they felt were especially important in establishing and maintaining their bond with their pet.
They described a wide range of behaviours that they perceived as indicators of a strong human-dog bond.
This included their pet nudging them with a paw, seen as a demonstration of protectiveness, and looking back at them on walks as if to check they are still there.
