Beyond anthropomorphising robot motion and towards robot-specific motion: consideration of the potential of artist—dancers in research on robotic motion

The design of robot motion is one of the most important questions in social robotics as it underpins successful human–robot interaction. Human-inspired motion design based on anthropomorphic models, through which human motion features are identified and implemented in a robot, is dominant in social robotics. The article considers perceptual, communicational and social dimensions of motion and suggests going beyond anthropomorphising robot motion and towards the quest of robot-specific motion. Robot-specific motion, as opposed to motion designed using an anthropomorphic model, can be characterised as motion that is designed and generated by robot features drawn through its mobility, materiality, and electro-mechanical ability. Through research on robot-specificity in motion it is possible to consider expressive and communicative features of motion independently of an anthropomorphic model. With this aim, the article stresses the importance of the artistic approach, especially in collaboration with dancers who are expert in motion, pointing out two specificities in art: non-efficiency centred approach and experiences. The article argues for renewing the traditional robotics approach by illustrating some artistic work and research which explore robot-specific motion.