The abundance of photographs of puppy dog eyes and zoomies on social media demonstrates how much we adore everything our furry buddies do.
Robot dogs might be taught our favorite canine traits to make them more lifelike and lovable.
Researchers from the University of Glasgow and Western Sydney University have identified seven categories of dog behaviors that pet owners deem essential for establishing a strong attachment.
These include ‘Physical Touch’ and ‘Enthusiasm,’ with examples such as resting their head on their master and greeting them with “kisses” when they return home.
Professor Emily Cross, a neuroscientist, remarked, “We know that human-animal relationships have significant benefits; understanding the attributes that contribute to these beneficial results could aid in the development of robots that also exhibit these qualities.
Understanding the reasons why people find four-legged companions so endearing is essential for developing pet-like technologies that mimic the actual thing, resulting in improved mental and emotional health for particular groups.
As a potential remedy to loneliness and as caregivers for the elderly, robots that display social behaviors have been proposed.
Programming all the subtleties of humanity to build a realistic humanoid robot presents obstacles.
Some academics are researching the prospect of producing robots inspired by dogs that can form comparable relationships with humans.
Creating a convincing robot dog may appear straightforward, but it requires a comprehensive understanding of certain dog behaviors that enable human-canine interactions.
Professor Cross and colleagues contacted 153 dog owners to get insight into these ties and the factors that contribute to their formation.
Participants were asked open-ended questions regarding the canine behaviors they believed were most crucial for building and maintaining a bond with their pet.
They described a variety of behaviors that, in their opinion, indicate a strong human-dog bond.
This includes their pet poking them with a paw, which was interpreted as a protective gesture, and looking back at them while walking as if to ensure they are still there.
The researchers analyzed the responses and were able to classify the behaviors into seven groups, which were published in PLOS One yesterday.
These include attunement, communication, consistency and predictability, physical affection, positivism and zeal, proximity, and shared activities.
According to the researchers, incorporating similar behaviors into robotic dogs could help them deliver the same satisfaction and mental health benefits as genuine companions.
In future studies, scientists will test this notion by having participants engage with robotic dogs that have been designed to behave like real dogs.
In addition, they wish to investigate how preferences for dog behavior change across different populations and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The authors noted, “Using a qualitative approach allowed us to get a rich and nuanced knowledge of the characteristics that make our canine partners so lovable.”
While it will be difficult to mimic the majority of these behaviors on robots, this research provides new and fascinating insights for those developing pet-like technologies.
