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Accepted Paper:

Partial artefacts: imitation and performance in MIT robotics labs  
Kathleen Richardson (De Montfort University)

Paper short abstract:

This paper will explore the theme of imitation in the making of human-like robots and examine how robotic scientists use their own bodies when planning and designing these robots.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is based on fieldwork conducted at MIT's humanoid robotic laboratories. I explore how performance, imitation and demonstrations are done by robotic scientists in the making of human-like robots. I explore the laboratory as a theatrical space where robotic fantasies are explored, and the practices of robotics as embedded in those performances.

One important area of discussion is the 'demo' (demonstrations) where roboticists capture video footage of their machines' actions to show to examiners, funding agencies and the public. The demo becomes an important vehicle to capture what the machine can do. The roboticist programs his or her machine to act out its activities but in many cases, the robot malfunctions and the systems fail to work as intended. This causes the roboticist to repeat the experiment over and over again till the action can be captured, but as a short-term measure roboticists act out the activity of the machine instead. The robot's lack of ability is minimized because a human actor does the robotic performance in its place. In this way, the roboticist became a stand-in for their robot. When video footage of the robot's abilities is taken, researchers only emphasize the footage where the robot achieved its intended goals. To the 'external' audience at least, robots are perceived as working and intelligent products.

Panel P12
Something borrowed, something new? Practices and politics of imitation
  Session 1