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Short abstract:

This research uncovers how roboticists "sample" and embed personal and societal values into robots. Through interviews and observations in global labs, it highlights the selective integration of experiences and cultures in robot design, shaping the machines' identities and interactions.

Long abstract:

This research explores the intricate relationship between roboticists' personal experiences and their approach to designing gendered human-robot interactions. Drawing on the I-methodology framework, initially coined by Ellen van Oost, this study delves into how roboticists' life experiences inform their conception of gender dynamics within human-robot relationships, ultimately embedding their personal values into the robots they create. These values, deeply intertwined with the roboticists' nationality, gender, education, class, and the demographic composition of their laboratories, manifest in the robots as representations of the creators' cultural and personal backgrounds.

Further extending this inquiry, the study examines the process through which personal values are "baked" into robots. It introduces the concept of "sampling," whereby roboticists selectively incorporate societal values into their designs, modifying and adapting these values to align with their experiences and the specific context of their laboratories. This process not only reflects the individual's worldviews but also actively shapes the cultural footprint of the robotics field.

Empirical evidence for this study is drawn from interviews with four directors and one roboticist across five robotics laboratories in Taiwan, Malaysia, and the United States, complemented by field observations in a robotics laboratory in Taiwan. Through this multi-site analysis, the research highlights the significant role of roboticists' subjectivities in shaping the development of robotic technologies, urging a reevaluation of how personal and cultural values are integrated into the fabric of future robotic systems.