Jogging is a popular exertion activity. The abundance of jogging apps suggests to us that joggers can appreciate the opportunity for technology to support the jogging experience. We want to take this investigation a step further by exploring if, and how, robotic systems can support the jogging experience. We designed and built a flying robotic system, a quadcopter, as a jogging companion and studied its use with 13 individual joggers. By analyzing their experiences, we derived three design dimensions that describe a design space for flying robotic jogging companions: Perceived Control, Focus and Bodily Interaction. Additionally, we articulate a series of design tactics, described by these dimensions, to guide the design of future systems. With this work we hope to inspire and guide designers interested in creating robotic systems to support exertion experiences.

Jogging can offer many health benefits, and mobile phone apps have recently emerged that aim to support the jogging experience. We believe that jogging is an embodied experience, and therefore present a contrasting approach to these existing systems by arguing that any supporting technology should also take on an embodied approach. In order to exemplify this approach, we detail the technical specifications of a flying quadcopter that has successfully been used with joggers in order to explore the design of embodied systems to support physical exertion activities. Based on interviews with five joggers running with our system, we present preliminary insights about the experience of jogging with a flying robot. With our work, we hope to inspire and guide designers who are interested in developing embodied systems to support exertion activities.