Exploring A Stylus-Based Haptic Interface to Reflect on Human-Robot Interaction

Robotic systems are altering human actions, shifting from direct physical engagement with an environment to interactions mediated by algorithms. This shift raises questions about how human actions can be preserved or reinterpreted within human-robot interaction (HRI). Through a design-led exploration, we examine HRI from the perspective of haptic feedback, enabling humans to actively shape their interactions rather than passively adapting to robotic actions. By using a Universal Robot (UR5) robotic arm and a stylus-based input-output device (3D Systems Touch), we investigate how haptic feedback can be used to augment HRI. Our findings suggest three types of haptic interactions: movement-based, reality-measured, and purpose-generated, which can support reflections on future HRI design.