Appeal and Perceived Naturalness of a Soft Robotic Tentacle

Soft robotics technology has been proposed for a number of applications that involve human-robot interaction. This study investigates how a silicone-based pneumatically actuated soft robotic tentacle is perceived in interaction. Quantitative and qualitative data was gathered from questionnaires (N=47) and video recordings. Results show that the overall appeal of the robot was positively associated with its perceived naturalness. They further indicate a slight user preference for the movements and the tactile qualities of the robot and a slightly negative evaluation of its appearance.