This curriculum spans the technical, operational, and ethical dimensions of deploying social robots at events, comparable in scope to a multi-phase advisory engagement that integrates robotics into live organisational environments.
Module 1: Defining Event Objectives and Robot Roles in Social Contexts
- Select whether a social robot will serve as a greeter, facilitator, or interactive exhibit based on attendee demographics and event purpose.
- Determine the required autonomy level—remote teleoperation versus full autonomy—depending on venue complexity and staff availability.
- Map robot interaction zones to physical space constraints to avoid navigation conflicts with guests or infrastructure.
- Decide on multilingual support requirements based on audience language diversity and localization expectations.
- Establish success metrics such as guest engagement duration, interaction completion rate, or feedback scores for robot performance.
- Negotiate robot branding visibility with stakeholders to balance sponsor exposure with user experience integrity.
Module 2: Selecting and Procuring Social Robots for Event Integration
- Evaluate robot platforms based on mobility type (wheeled, stationary, aerial) and environmental compatibility with flooring, lighting, and crowd density.
- Compare onboard sensor suites (LiDAR, depth cameras, microphones) for reliability in noisy, dynamic event spaces.
- Verify third-party API access for integration with registration systems, CRMs, or mobile apps.
- Assess battery life and recharging logistics under continuous operation scenarios to avoid mid-event downtime.
- Negotiate service-level agreements (SLAs) with vendors for on-site technical support and spare hardware availability.
- Conduct pre-event site visits to validate Wi-Fi coverage, power access, and physical docking station placement.
Module 3: Designing Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Workflows
Module 4: Integrating Robots with Event Technology Ecosystems
- Configure robot synchronization with event management platforms (e.g., Bizzabo, Cvent) for real-time attendee data updates.
- Deploy middleware to translate robot-generated interaction logs into analytics dashboards for event organizers.
- Secure data transmission between robots and backend servers using TLS encryption and device-level authentication.
- Implement role-based access controls for robot configuration interfaces to prevent unauthorized modifications.
- Test failover behavior when primary network connections drop, ensuring robots revert to cached data or safe states.
- Validate time-synchronization across all devices to maintain consistency in logging and scheduling.
Module 5: Operational Deployment and On-Site Management
- Assign robot supervisors to monitor performance dashboards and intervene during navigation or interaction failures.
- Establish daily startup and shutdown checklists including sensor calibration and software updates.
- Coordinate robot patrol schedules with event programming to avoid conflicts with speeches or performances.
- Deploy physical barriers or signage to define robot-only zones in high-traffic areas.
- Conduct live walkthroughs with venue staff to clarify robot access points and emergency stop procedures.
- Monitor ambient noise levels and adjust microphone gain or speech volume in real time.
Module 6: Managing Ethical, Legal, and Inclusion Considerations
- Conduct bias testing on voice and facial recognition systems across diverse attendee groups.
- Document data retention policies and ensure deletion timelines align with GDPR or CCPA requirements.
- Train staff to handle complaints about robot behavior, including perceived rudeness or exclusion.
- Provide alternative service channels for attendees who opt out of robot interactions.
- Label robots clearly as non-human agents to prevent deception in customer service roles.
- Review insurance coverage for physical damage or privacy breaches involving robotic systems.
Module 7: Measuring Impact and Planning for Scalability
- Correlate robot interaction logs with post-event survey responses to assess perceived usefulness.
- Analyze path efficiency metrics to identify bottlenecks in robot navigation or task routing.
- Compare labor cost savings against robot rental, staffing, and maintenance expenses.
- Identify repeatable robot use cases for future events based on ROI and stakeholder feedback.
- Archive configuration profiles for robots to enable rapid redeployment across similar event types.
- Develop upgrade pathways for incorporating new sensors or AI models between events.
