I looked at their moving about ‘pointing’ by the robot...seems to me the only ‘control’ and suggestion/approval way by the human handler in the room.
I do not see how you could draw a conclusion about robot/animal interaction by this.
If the robot has a built-in food dispenser, then canine affection is guaranteed. And feline, let’s be fair.
How much did this study cost?
The control was the human’s?
Well this is a sad face of today’s infatuation with things science. Advocates trump up the technology or the capability because they — we — want to believe in it. And it’s the same lead balloon as globull warmism.