Practice-based robotics: How sociology can inform the development of social robots

This chapter explores how sociology can contribute to the development of social robots. Before I answer this question, I will briefly discuss what social robots are, and why it is relevant for sociology to contribute to their development. Afterwards I will present three approaches that show how sociology can inform the development of social robots, and finally I will discuss these approaches. I will argue for the need for a systematic collaboration between sociologists and engineers to develop socially relevant robots. This collaboration should be framed by empirical informed knowledge and co-creation processes in which sociological knowledge contributes both to formulating research questions and projects, and to the development of social robots by analysing socio-material practices.