Identity of a companion, migrating between robots without common communication modalities: Initial results of VHRI study

In this paper we deal with a companion that is capable of migration to variety of embodiments in order to fulfil its tasks (including the social one) and to achieve its goals. It is important that identity of a companion in each utilised embodiment can be recognised by the user despite of technological constraints and own capabilities of a robotic platform. We are interested in the case when one companion use two robots, embodied in different degrees, whereby one robot is poorly embodied and the both robots have no common communication modalities (e.g. a robotic head and a mobile platform). It follows from video-based user´s studies that if migration is indirect and goes through a third robot, that has common components with the previous two, then the user can properly recognise the identity of this companion with a certain level of confidence, in some context. A number of observations relevant to behaviours as identity cues are presented and discussed.