Publication
The human intention: A taxonomy attempt and its applications to robotics
Journal Article (2025)
Journal
International Journal of Social Robotics
Pages
2479-2499
Volume
17
Doc link
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-025-01304-8
File
Abstract
Despite a surge in robotics research dedicated to inferring and understanding human intent, a universally accepted definition remains elusive since existing works often equate human intention with specific task-related goals. This article seeks to address this gap by examining the multifaceted nature of intention. Drawing on insights from psychology, it attempts to consolidate a definition of intention into a comprehensible framework for a broader audience. The article classifies different types of intention based on psychological and communication studies, offering guidance to researchers shifting from pure technical enhancements to a more human-centric perspective in robotics. It then demonstrates how various robotics studies can be aligned with these intention categories. Finally, through in-depth analyses of collaborative search and object transport use cases, the article underscores the significance of considering the diverse facets of human intention.
Categories
automation, cybernetics.
Author keywords
Human-robot interaction, Intention understanding, Human-centered studies, Theory of mind
Scientific reference
J.E. Domínguez and A. Sanfeliu. The human intention: A taxonomy attempt and its applications to robotics. International Journal of Social Robotics, 17: 2479-2499, 2025.
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