Getting people from point A to point B

Once the user’s request is acquired and understood, the robot needs to fulfill that particular request for assistance. We initially imagined a couple different ways to accomplish this:

Provide a Map Print Out

Even though our main goal was to replace the Union’s map, we decided that a map distributed by the robot could be more specific and helpful than the one currently on the wall. The idea involved a printout with personalized directions outlining where the user is now and where he/she needs to go, much like A to B directions on Google Maps. This way, people wouldn’t have to find a “You are here” dot and orient themselves in the context of the map. Moving from point A to B is much more simple.

Spoken + Visual Guidance

We also envisioned an alternative method where the robot could give quick verbal guidance as to how to get to a location (like asking a stranger on the street for directions) while providing a visual “fast-forward” walkthrough of the building playing on a screen to allow for a more concrete explanation. We figured this method would be more natural, i.e. people are used to words and arm motions when receiving directions. It would also be less wasteful compared to the map idea, which would use a good amount of paper.