Piggybacking Robots: Human-Robot Overtrust in University Dormitory Security

Serena Booth, James Tompkin, Hanspeter Pfister, Jim Waldo, Krzysztof Gajos, Radhika Nagpal

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Can overtrust in robots compromise physical security? We conducted a series of experiments in which a robot positioned outside a secure-access student dormitory asked passersby to assist it to gain access. We found individual participants were as likely to assist the robot in exiting the dormitory (40% assistance rate, 4/10 individuals) as in entering (19%, 3/16 individuals). Groups of people were more likely than individuals to assist the robot in entering (71%, 10/14 groups). When the robot was disguised as a food delivery agent for the fictional start-up Robot Grub, individuals were more likely to assist the robot in entering (76%, 16/21 individuals). Lastly, we found participants who identified the robot as a bomb threat demonstrated a trend toward assisting the robot (87%, 7/8 individuals, 6/7 groups). Thus, we demonstrate that overtrust - -the unfounded belief that the robot does not intend to deceive or carry risk - -can represent a significant threat to physical security at a university dormitory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHRI 2017 - Proceedings of the 2017 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages426-434
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781450343367
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 6 2017
Externally publishedYes
Event12th Annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, HRI 2017 - Vienna, Austria
Duration: Mar 6 2017Mar 9 2017

Publication series

NameACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction
VolumePart F127194
ISSN (Electronic)2167-2148

Conference

Conference12th Annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, HRI 2017
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVienna
Period3/6/173/9/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • overtrust
  • piggybacking
  • robotics
  • secure access
  • tailgating
  • trust

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Piggybacking Robots: Human-Robot Overtrust in University Dormitory Security'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this