Improving robot teleoperation experience via immersive interfaces

Abstract

This paper investigates approaches capable of inducing sensations of tele-presence in robotic tele-operations. Operator's control actions are simpler, if he feels being in the remote environment. The goal is to replicate some conditions of the remote environment to let operator's perception behaviours approximate to the natural ones. Since immersion aims at providing stimulus to trick the sensory system, we pursue a consistency between outside sensory feedbacks and inside sensory proprioceptive, vestibular information and cognitive models. Seeking operations enhancement, we explore the embodiment concept by virtually place the operator inside the robot. This research develops and evaluates natural-based interfaces for immersive tele-operation. The results indicate a decrease in cognitive workload with gains in task performance.