--- title: "Robot Walk" description: "Pairs navigate an open space where one person acts as a robot and the other directs movement using simple shoulder cues. Partners swap roles and discuss how communication precision affects movement and safety." last_updated: "2026-09-20" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/partner-trust-building-activity-builds-communication-robot-walk/" --- # Robot Walk Pairs navigate an open space where one person acts as a robot and the other directs movement using simple shoulder cues. Partners swap roles and discuss how communication precision affects movement and safety. **Time:** 15 minutes. UWT suggested duration based on two navigation rounds of 60 seconds each plus setup, practice, and debrief **People:** 4 to 24. Pairs moving in a shared open space; odd person acts as safety monitor ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Demonstrate the link between signal precision, response lag, and mutual accountability during nonverbal navigation. **Use it when:** Use during communication or team alignment sessions to explore nonverbal feedback, directional clarity, and pacing in a kinetic format. **Skip it when:** Skip when the physical space contains tripping hazards, stairs, or tight confines, or when participants prefer to avoid physical proximity or touch. ## Materials and tools - 1 room with an open floor free of chairs and tripping hazards - 1 whiteboard or flip chart with marker - 1 digital countdown timer ## Before participants arrive 1. Clear chairs, tables, bags, and loose wires away from the center of the room to create a large open floor. 2. Write the 4 directional signals visibly on the board: One tap between shoulder blades = Walk forward; One tap on left shoulder = Turn 90 degrees left; One tap on right shoulder = Turn 90 degrees right; Two quick taps between shoulder blades = Stop walking. 3. Identify boundary lines on the floor so participants stay within the clear area. ## Say this to open Find a partner and decide who will start as the controller and who will start as the robot. If anyone prefers hands-off guidance, you can use one-word verbal cues or light hand shadows instead of physical touch. Controllers, your job is to guide your partner safely through the space using only four simple signals. Robots, you walk at a steady, slow pace only when signaled. Let us do a quick stand-still practice of the four signals before anyone takes a step. ## How to run it ### 1. Form pairs and introduce signaling code (3 minutes) Ask participants to pair up. If there is an odd participant, invite them to serve as a roaming room safety spotter with the facilitator. Direct pairs to designate Person A as Robot and Person B as Controller. Point to the four signals on the board. Allow 60 seconds for stationary practice: Controller practices the signals gently on Robot while Robot confirms the meaning without moving feet. ### 2. Round 1 navigation (3 minutes) Announce the start of Round 1. Controllers guide their robots slowly across the designated space. Controllers must prevent collisions with other pairs, walls, and obstacles. Robots walk at a slow, constant shuffle until tapped twice to stop or tapped on a shoulder to turn. Call time after 60 to 90 seconds. Instruct all robots to halt. ### 3. Role switch and Round 2 navigation (4 minutes) Instruct partners to switch roles: Person B is now the Robot and Person A is the Controller. Remind controllers to check with their partner on their preferred signaling mode (light touch, air tap, or single-word verbal cue). Start the timer for 90 seconds. Controllers guide their partners through the space, navigating around other moving pairs. Call time and bring everyone to a seated circle. ### 4. Whole-group debrief (5 minutes) Facilitate a structured debrief with the whole group using the posted questions. Take 3 to 4 comments from participants who experienced the robot role and 3 to 4 comments from controllers. ## Debrief questions - For robots: What made you feel safe to step forward, and what created hesitation? - For controllers: How did you adjust your timing so your partner had time to turn or stop before reaching an obstacle? - How does the delay between sending a signal and seeing a response mirror everyday communication on our team? **Finished output:** Shared verbal observations on signal clarity, response lag, and personal boundary settings recorded on the whiteboard. ## Remote This specific kinetic navigation exercise cannot be replicated online without becoming an entirely different digital game. For remote teams seeking a parallel communication lesson, run a verbal grid navigation exercise instead: one partner shares a simple 5x5 grid with hidden obstacles while verbally directing their partner step-by-step from start to finish. ## Hybrid Run the physical activity with in-person attendees while remote participants work in a virtual breakout room playing an audio-only maze or screen-based grid navigation exercise. Rejoin all participants for the joint debrief on signaling delay and trust. ## Access and participation choices - Offer non-contact signaling: Controllers can use one-word spoken commands (Forward, Left, Right, Stop) or visual hand gestures held in front of the partner instead of physical taps. - Offer the safety spotter role to anyone who prefers not to walk or be guided. - Robots may keep eyes open at all times; closing eyes is strictly optional. ## If the session gets stuck **Robots walk too fast or run, increasing collision risk.** Pause the room immediately. Demonstrate the expected robot pace as a slow, deliberate heel-to-toe shuffle before restarting. **A participant expresses discomfort with shoulder taps after the round starts.** Immediately switch that pair to verbal audio cues (Forward, Left, Right, Stop) or shadow air taps without requiring an explanation. ## Terms used here - Controller: The partner responsible for monitoring surroundings and issuing navigation commands. - Robot: The partner receiving signals and moving accordingly at a steady, controlled pace. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in Playmeo documentation, where the activity is attributed to Mark Collard. Retained the four-signal tap code, partner roles, and rotation mechanic from Mark Collard's Robot Walk in Playmeo. UWT introduced explicit non-contact variations (verbal cues and hand gestures), clarified that eyes may remain open to avoid forced blindness, added an odd-participant safety spotter role, established a stationary practice phase, and designed structured debrief prompts. [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/trust-building-games/robot-walk) [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/trust-building-games/robot-walk/) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/partner-trust-building-activity-builds-communication-robot-walk/