Glossary

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Simultaneous Localization and Mapping(also: SLAM)

A foundational robotics technique in which a robot constructs a map of an unknown environment while simultaneously estimating its own pose within that map. SLAM combines sensor input (typically LiDAR, depth cameras, or monocular vision) with probabilistic state estimation…

Social Navigation(also: Socially-aware navigation, Socially compliant robot navigation)

In robotics, the problem of moving through an environment that contains people, in a way that respects social norms, comfort, and safety. Social navigation goes beyond obstacle avoidance: it requires predicting pedestrian intentions, respecting personal space, interpreting…

Social Robot(also: Companion Robot, Assistive Social Robot)

A robot designed to interact with people in socially meaningful ways, using verbal communication, gestures, and responsive behaviors to engage users. In accessibility contexts, social robots like SoftBank's Pepper have shown potential as confidence-building mentors, health…

Social robot(also: Socially assistive robot, Companion robot)

A robot designed to interact and communicate with people in socially meaningful ways, often through movement, sound, or simulated emotional expression. In accessibility contexts, social robots are used to support neurodivergent individuals, older adults, and people with…

Socially Assistive Robot(also: SAR, Social Robot)

A robot designed to assist people through social interaction rather than physical manipulation. Socially assistive robots use embodied presence, movement, and social behaviors such as gaze, gestures, and expressions to provide support in contexts including therapy, education,…

Swarm robotics(also: Multi-robot systems)

A field of robotics involving the coordination of multiple simple robots that work together as a group, inspired by collective behaviours in nature such as ant colonies or bird flocking. Individual robots follow simple rules, but their collective behaviour produces complex,…

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