A probabilistic framework for autonomous proxemic control in situated and mobile human-robot interaction

In this paper, we draw upon insights gained in our previous work on human-human proxemic behavior analysis to develop a novel method for human-robot proxemic behavior production. A probabilistic framework for spatial interaction has been developed that considers the sensory experience of each agent (human or robot) in a co-present social encounter. In this preliminary work, a robot attempts to maintain a set of human body features in its camera field-of-view. This methodology addresses the functional aspects of proxemic behavior in human-robot interaction, and provides an elegant connection between previous approaches.