Mie Grøftehave Nielsen, Andreas Juul Jespersen, and Louise Brønderup Frederiksen participated in the Student Design Challenge at the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI’26) in Edinburgh, one of the world’s leading conferences in the field. Here, they presented their project “Beckoning Bowl: Using Social Robots to Counteract Loneliness in One-Person Households” and were awarded runner-up in the competition.

Designing subtle social robots for everyday life

Their project explores how technology can support people living alone through small, meaningful interactions in everyday settings.

The students developed a shape-changing key bowl made from silicone, designed to create a sense of welcome when a person returns home. Instead of using screens or humanoid features, the bowl communicates through movement and material:

• It stretches toward the user as they enter
• It responds to interaction when keys are placed
• It mimics a subtle social greeting through motion

By avoiding traditional “robot-like” features, the design blends naturally into the home while still offering a sense of connection.

At HRI’26, they presented their work, demonstrated the prototype, and engaged with researchers from across disciplines, including robotics, AI, and human-computer interaction. The Student Design Challenge featured 27 competing teams, making the runner-up award a significant international recognition.

A growing field at the intersection of technology and people

The Human-Robot Interaction conference (HRI) brings together researchers across robotics, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and social sciences. The students’ success highlights the strength of our work in designing technology that not only functions, but also meaningfully interacts with people.

Congratulations!