Validating the Accuracy of Imaged-Based Research into the Uncanny Valley: An Experimental Proposal

Abstract

The uncanny valley phenomenon has be researched for the past 15 years, attempting to prove its validity with limited success. Researchers have been trying to recreate Masahiro Mori's hypothesised function [1] through a variety of experiments using images of real robots and images created from morphing humans and robots. Although some of these experiments have provided results supporting Mori's hypothesis, there is no solid confirmation of their legitimacy when it comes to real human-robot interaction. This paper examines the methods and subsequent results of studies to draw conclusions regarding the validity of experimental data into Mori's hypothesis. These conclusions lead us to propose an Augmented Reality(AR) experiment designed to verify the results of previous experimentation.