Dr van Zalk was an invited keynote speaker at the opening ceremony for DroneHub, EMPA (Zurich), on 20^th of November 2024. 

Together with keynote panellists Philipp Eder (Head of Drones & Robots at Swisscom Broadcast Ltd) who discussed the need for an infrastructure to test drones, Stefan Müller (Group CTO at Maxon) who talked about the need for innovation opportunity, and Patrick Meier (Founder of Climate Robotics Network & Senior Consultant) who discussed the need for robotic climate action, Dr van Zalk’s talk focused on the need for a test environment for a co-living of humans and robots. 

As Dr van Zalk pointed out, the integration of robots (such as drones) into human living spaces, a concept popularised in science fiction, has limited real-world research addressing its psychological and social impacts. Most existing studies focus on perceptions or controlled tasks, leaving gaps in understanding natural interactions. Establishing a “living lab” is crucial for studying these dynamics in real-life settings. Key areas include fostering trust through robot design, understanding how robots affect human interaction patterns, and managing potential over-reliance or psychological dependency on robots. Observing adaptation processes in these labs could mitigate challenges like “uncanny valley” discomfort and help develop robots that align with diverse human preferences.

Living labs also offer insights into long-term effects of co-living with robots, such as impacts on identity, autonomy, and child development. They enable testing to minimize cognitive strain, ensure ethical boundaries, and create tailored robot designs for cultural and individual needs. Such environments are vital for exploring emotional and social dynamics, preparing guidelines for ethical human-robot relationships, and fostering psychological well-being. By examining these interactions, living labs can guide the responsible integration of robots into daily life, ensuring a harmonious and beneficial coexistence.