Household Pets and Domestic AI

Domestic applied robotics introduces a number of novel complexities not fully researched in a lab setting. This can range from unexpected obstacles, to Luddite house guests, to religious rules.  One such complexity I will be experimenting with is the relationship between a domestic embodied intelligence and household pets. Meet Marceau. Marceau is a three year old, two kilo Pomeranian.  She will also be living alongside the embodied intelligence for one year. 

Marceau, the two kilo Pomeranian set to live alongside domestic robotics.

There are a few potential concerns one may have while bringing embodied intelligence into a home with pets:

• How will the initial meeting go? 

• Will the dog get territorial or reject the robot being in its space?

• Could there be a risk of accidental injury?

• How would the dog communicate needs to the robot for pet care?

• Would they potentially bond?

I will be conducting experiments and recording the benefits and issues with having a robot in the household over the next year but in advance of the robot’s arrival, here are some proactive steps I’ve taken to help smooth the transition out.

For the initial meeting, I consulted the Humane Society of the United States’ recommended processes for introducing dogs to other dogs. This includes instructions to introduce dogs on neutral territory with high value treats on hand for distraction, to watch body posture carefully for signs of defensive behavior, to let the dog determine the pace of the introduction and to monitor closely in the home and use a barrier to separate the dog if necessary.  All of these recommendations can be extrapolated, adapted and applied to the meeting of the robot and my household pet. As such, the plan is to have the robot, Tova, and the dog, Marceau, meet in the garden rather than inside the house.  I plan to wear a scarf for the weeks leading up to Tova’s arrival and then to drape it on the robot so that there is also a familiar scent to the robot as it meets Marceau and comes into the house. There are also rooms which can be closed off so that if they need a break from one another, this can be facilitated in different rooms. 

As for a pet becoming territorial or rejecting the robot being in its space, this is related to the projected use hours as well as the docking location within the house. The battery life of the robot is two hours and I have purchased two batteries in order to be able to rotate them.  My expectation is that although I will aim to interact with the robot every single day, that it will not be in a constant state of being on, aware or moving about the apartment. When it is docked, I expect it to be seated on a chair nearby to where its battery will be charging in my living room. This “off time” could also give some time for readjustment to having a new being in the house for any housepets. 

As for potential injuries, there isn’t as much potential for the robot to be hurt by the dog jumping up or knocking it over as there would be for a typical Golden Retriever or Lab.  There is, however, the chance that my purse sized dog could evade the obstacle detection of the cameras and LiDAR sensors of the robot and perhaps be nudged or stepped on.  This will require adaptation by both pet and robot with a bit of facilitation on my end. I have purchased an LED collar for Marceau which will make her glow in the dark and provide extra sensor input for the robot as it scans the room looking for her. This effort to help the robot combined with the hopefully natural human walking movements of the robot will ensure that Marceau knows to get out of the way and that the robot is more likely to see her. The LED collar charges on a typical USB-C and so far holds its charge for around a month at a time. 

For pet care, communication is important. If Marceau needs to be carried off the sofa or bed, she sits in the corner and stares at the floor until someone notices. If she needs to be let outside, she will sit and stare at the door.  If she needs more food or water, she will sit and stare at her water dish.  Since she has a very quiet way of communicating her needs, I will need to communicate to the robot that it is important when training in the care of her that she be checked on periodically and if she is doing one of those things, that the reciprocal action be taken.

As for bonding. I have purchased a smaller toy robot with similar movements that I will introduce into our home and keep on and moving for at least two hours during the day in the month leading up to the arrival of the embodied intelligence. 

With all the steps I’ve taken to prepare, it is my hope that the transition is smooth to incorporating another being into a human and pet home. I will continue to update about both the preparatory stages regarding dog-robot relations as well as how the relationship develops over the year with recommendations for other human and pet homes considering adding a robot!