From Framework to Reliable Practice: End-User Perspectives on Social Robots in Public Spaces

TL;DR

The paper addresses how end users perceive social robots deployed in public spaces, arguing that trust and acceptance depend on more than technical reliability; ethics, privacy, accessibility, and transparency are essential. It presents a real-world pilot where an ARI receptionist at a university is developed under the SecuRoPS framework and evaluated by 35 participants, focusing on safety, privacy, usability, accessibility, and transparency. The study contributes an empirical end-user validation of SecuRoPS, coupled with an open-source repository of ARI templates to lower entry barriers and enhance reproducibility. By integrating user perspectives with practical resources, the work advances responsible robotics in public spaces and informs the design of trustworthy, inclusive, and secure embodied agents.

Abstract

As social robots increasingly enter public environments, their acceptance depends not only on technical reliability but also on ethical integrity, accessibility, and user trust. This paper reports on a pilot deployment of an ARI social robot functioning as a university receptionist, designed in alignment with the SecuRoPS framework for secure and ethical social robot deployment. Thirty-five students and staff interacted with the robot and provided structured feedback on safety, privacy, usability, accessibility, and transparency. The results show generally positive perceptions of physical safety, data protection, and ethical behavior, while also highlighting challenges related to accessibility, inclusiveness, and dynamic interaction. Beyond the empirical findings, the study demonstrates how theoretical frameworks for ethical and secure design can be implemented in real-world contexts through end-user evaluation. It also provides a public GitHub repository containing reusable templates for ARI robot applications to support reproducibility and lower the entry barrier for new researchers. By combining user perspectives with practical technical resources, this work contributes to ongoing discussions in AI and society and supports the development of trustworthy, inclusive, and ethically responsible social robots for public spaces.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: Overview of the research methodology followed in the study
• Figure 2: Branded Ari Social Robot utilized in this study (a) Front view, (b) Back view
• Figure 3: Radar chart showing positive and negative participant responses (%) across key post-interaction assessment criteria