Evaluating social impact of pedipulation with quadrupedal robot

Quadrupedal robots, often referred to as ``robot dogs," are increasingly employed across a wide range of applications, including industrial inspections and public safety operations. Pedipulation—a novel area of research within quadruped robotics—involves limb-based manipulation that significantly extends the functional capabilities of these systems. Beyond enhancing robotic autonomy in complex tasks, pedipulation may also positively influence human-robot interactions, particularly in social contexts. In this preliminary study, we used a previously developed pedipulation-control framework to assess how the resulting behaviors affect human perception. Specifically, we conducted a between-subjects study in which participants watched videos of a robot dog solving tasks either with or without pedipulation, and then completed the NARS (Negative Attitude towards Robots Scale) and the Godspeed questionnaire. The statistical analysis revealed a significant interaction in the scores of two items of the GodSpeed scale, namely Perceived Intelligence and, to a lesser extent, Likeability, for those who have a worse predisposition towards robots.