  Robot accidents are inevitable. Although rare, they have been happening since
assembly-line robots were first introduced in the 1960s. But a new generation
of social robots are now becoming commonplace. Often with sophisticated
embedded artificial intelligence (AI) social robots might be deployed as care
robots to assist elderly or disabled people to live independently. Smart robot
toys offer a compelling interactive play experience for children and
increasingly capable autonomous vehicles (AVs) the promise of hands-free
personal transport and fully autonomous taxis. Unlike industrial robots which
are deployed in safety cages, social robots are designed to operate in human
environments and interact closely with humans; the likelihood of robot
accidents is therefore much greater for social robots than industrial robots.
This paper sets out a draft framework for social robot accident investigation;
a framework which proposes both the technology and processes that would allow
social robot accidents to be investigated with no less rigour than we expect of
air or rail accident investigations. The paper also places accident
investigation within the practice of responsible robotics, and makes the case
that social robotics without accident investigation would be no less
irresponsible than aviation without air accident investigation.
