5 Spatial directionals for robot navigation

Abstract

Abstract Previous research on spatial projective terms such as to the left (of) and in front (of) typically focuses on static (locative) usages. This chapter addresses the usage of such expressions in dynamic contexts (i.e. as directionals). As part of the general aim of developing a speech interface for allowing intuitive control of a mobile robot in navigation tasks, this chapter describes the implementation of a carefully selected subset of interpretations of directional terms in a robotic system. The system was validated and gradually im­proved by experiments involving spontaneous directional instruc­tions by users who were not informed about the robot’s capabilities.