Human-Robot Interaction in Extreme and Challenging Environments

Leimin Tian, Pamela Carreno-Medrano, Manuel Giuliani, Nick Hawes, Raunak Bhattacharyya, Dana Kulic

Abstract: The first workshop on human-robot interaction in extreme and challenging environments (exactingHRI: https://sites.google.com/monash.edu/exactinghril) focuses on the forefront of HRI research in applications where robots are working with diverse users in uncertain, unknown, or risky environments to deliver reliable outcomes in repeated sessions. In these scenarios, a robot's autonomous and interactive functions are put to the test, with errors likely to arise. Such HRI systems require design and evaluation in-situ with target users, i.e., “exacting” HRI. The exactingHRI 2025 workshop aims to bring together researchers that investigate the diverse human, robot, task, environment, and interaction factors that are challenging for state-of-the-art HRI systems, as well as innovative designs, theories, models, and methods that equip people and robots with the ability to address these challenges. Workshop presenters will share lessons they have learned from successful or failed attempts in testing their work in such difficult settings, in a bid to encourage and guide the necessary efforts that progress our field to solve real-world problems.