| Title |
Understanding consumer attitudes towards second-hand robots for the home |
| ID_Doc |
5697 |
| Authors |
Mc Gloin, H; Studley, M; Mawle, R; Winfield, AFT |
| Title |
Understanding consumer attitudes towards second-hand robots for the home |
| Year |
2024 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.3389/frobt.2024.1324519 |
| Abstract |
As robot numbers in the home increase, creating a market for second-hand robotic systems is essential to reduce the waste impact of the industry. Via a survey, consumer attitudes of United Kingdom participants towards second-hand robots were investigated; finding that second-hand robots with guarantees have an equal purchasing interest compared to new systems, highlighting the opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to develop certification standards for second-hand robots to move towards a circular economy. Consumer demographics also demonstrated that those most open to the purchase of both new and second-hand systems were women, those aged 18-25 years old, and those who have previously owned a robot for the home. Participants' prior ownership of second-hand electronic devices (such as phones and laptops) did not affect rates of interest for second-hand robotic systems suggesting that the technology is still too new for people to be able to project their experience of current second-hand electronics to that of a robot. Additionally, this research found the robotics industry can consider the potential market for second-hand robots to be more similar to the second-hand smartphone market than to the household electronics market, and lessons learnt from the concerns raised by consumers for other internet-enabled electronic devices are similar to those concerns for second-hand robots. This provides an opportunity for the industry to break down the barriers for a circular economy earlier in the technology maturity process than has been seen for other electronics. |
| Author Keywords |
robotics; sustainability; circular-economy; second-hand; e-waste; repurpose; reuse; recycle |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) |
| EID |
WOS:001274875200001 |
| WoS Category |
Robotics |
| Research Area |
Robotics |
| PDF |
https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2024.1324519
|