Short abstract:

Based on ethnographic observations, we explore affective forms of knowing in robotics, considering caring for, neglecting, and fearing robots. We aim to elucidate the intricate interplay of diverse affective forms of knowing, drawing on Puig de la Bellacasa’s and Haraway’s onto-ethico accounts.

Long abstract:

Owing to the strong recognition of the significance of care in more-than-human worlds (Puig de la Bellacasa, 2017), the paper explores the affective relationships between roboticists and robots in laboratory settings. Based on ethnographic data, we will argue that the interplay of different forms of affective knowing appears to be at the core of technoscientific knowledge practices. We, therefore, analyze the interplay of affective dimensions involving caring, neglecting, and fearing.

On the one hand, roboticists seek to connect with their robots by attaining a feeling for the machines (touching, observing, and imitating them), which we understand as embodied renderings of care. On the other hand, a central aspect of constructing robots is to cope with resistant facets of the machine that may challenge prescribed roles, fostering distrust and fear (i.e., roboticists insulting the robot and carrying an emergency button at all times). Additionally, robots are often only needed as long as projects are funded, ultimately leading to practices of neglect (i.e., tossing, forgetting, gutting).

Using data sequences in which roboticists design robotic movements, we will first examine practices of caring for robots. Secondly, we will present the other side of the medallion, which is neglecting robots when they become obsolete. Thirdly, we will focus on situations that display unforeseen and alarming behavior of robots, leading to distrust and fear. Ultimately, we aim to elucidate the potentials of the intricate interplay of different forms of affective knowing, drawing from Puig de la Bellacasa’s and Haraway’s onto-ethico accounts of more-than-human relatedness.