Uncertainty, Vagueness, and Ambiguity in Human-Robot Interaction: Why Conceptualization Matters

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Sun, Xiaowen, Weber, Cornelius, Kerzel, Matthias, Spisak, Josua, Wermter, Stefan
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Sun, Xiaowen
Weber, Cornelius
Kerzel, Matthias
Spisak, Josua
Wermter, Stefan
author_facet Sun, Xiaowen
Weber, Cornelius
Kerzel, Matthias
Spisak, Josua
Wermter, Stefan
contents Uncertainty, vagueness, and ambiguity are closely related and often confused concepts in human-robot interaction (HRI). In earlier studies, these concepts have been defined in contradictory ways and described using inconsistent terminology. This conceptual confusion and lack of terminological consistency undermine empirical comparability, thereby slowing the accumulation of theory. Consequently, consistent concepts that clarify these challenges, including their definitions, distinctions, and interrelationships, are needed in HRI. To address this lack of clarity, this paper proposes a consistent conceptual foundation for the challenges of uncertainty, vagueness, and ambiguity in HRI. First, we examine the meanings of these three terms in dictionaries. We then analyze the nature of their distinctions and interrelationships within the context of HRI. We further illustrate these characteristics through examples. Finally, we demonstrate how this consistent conceptual foundation facilitates the design of novel methods and the evaluation of existing methodologies for these phenomena.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_15339
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Uncertainty, Vagueness, and Ambiguity in Human-Robot Interaction: Why Conceptualization Matters
Sun, Xiaowen
Weber, Cornelius
Kerzel, Matthias
Spisak, Josua
Wermter, Stefan
Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Uncertainty, vagueness, and ambiguity are closely related and often confused concepts in human-robot interaction (HRI). In earlier studies, these concepts have been defined in contradictory ways and described using inconsistent terminology. This conceptual confusion and lack of terminological consistency undermine empirical comparability, thereby slowing the accumulation of theory. Consequently, consistent concepts that clarify these challenges, including their definitions, distinctions, and interrelationships, are needed in HRI. To address this lack of clarity, this paper proposes a consistent conceptual foundation for the challenges of uncertainty, vagueness, and ambiguity in HRI. First, we examine the meanings of these three terms in dictionaries. We then analyze the nature of their distinctions and interrelationships within the context of HRI. We further illustrate these characteristics through examples. Finally, we demonstrate how this consistent conceptual foundation facilitates the design of novel methods and the evaluation of existing methodologies for these phenomena.
title Uncertainty, Vagueness, and Ambiguity in Human-Robot Interaction: Why Conceptualization Matters
topic Human-Computer Interaction
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.15339