Identifying Public Engagement with Autonomous Art Through Human Pose and Speed Detection

Tianyuan Wang, Fanta Camara, Robert Woolley, Darren Reed

Abstract: The successful integration of autonomous systems in public spaces hinges on balancing technical performance with public acceptance and safety concerns. While much research has focused on the technical aspects of autonomous technologies, fewer studies have explored how these systems are perceived and interacted with by the public in artistic contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining how autonomous devices can achieve “social legibility” through a combination of technical and human-centered approaches. The Wheel, an autonomous kinetic sculpture, was used as a tool for studying human-robot interaction in a real-world setting. Deployed at York Festival of Ideas, The Wheel provided an opportunity to observe how the audience members respond to autonomous systems in a public, artistic context. Analysis of audience members’ movement and behavior reveals that while The Wheel drew attention and engaged passersby, deeper interactions were less frequent. These findings suggest that creating socially legible autonomous systems requires careful attention to both technical design and public perception. This research contributes to the understanding of how autonomous systems can be better designed to align with human expectations and reduce perceived risks.

External IDs:dblp:conf/socrob/WangCWR25