Responsible Robotics: A Socio-Ethical Addition to Robotics Courses

We are witnessing a rapid increase in real-world autonomous robotic deployments environments ranging from indoor homes and commercial establishments to large-scale urban areas, with applications domestic assistance last-mile delivery. The developers of these robots inevitably have make impactful design decisions ensure commercially viability, but such serious consequences. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for projects face intense bouts social backlash, which can be attributed wide variety causes, inappropriate technical choices transgressions norms lack community engagement. To better prepare students the rigors developing deploying robotics systems, we developed Responsible Robotics teaching module, intended included upper-division graduate level courses. Our module structured as role playing exercise aims equip framework navigating conflicting goals human actors govern field. report on instructor reflections anonymous survey responses offering our responsible both graduate-level, an undergraduate course at UT Austin. indicate that gained deeper understanding socio-technical factors than they might using self-study methods, proactively suggested modules should more broadly CS