Collaborative Meat Processing in Virtual Reality: Evaluating Perceived Safety and Predictability of Robot Approach

Abstract

Efficient and safe collaboration between humans and industrial robots requires a mutual understanding that can be achieved by clearly signalling intentions and acting predictably. We present a preliminary version of a virtual reality environment, which is intended as a platform for development and evaluation of techniques that enable collaboration with industrial robots. In addition, we presents a user study for evaluating two speed profiles for having large industrial robots approach a human coworker. We compare the predictability and the perceived safety of the speed profiles, showing that test participants prefer a gradual slowdown, as the robot approaches, opposed to a faster approach where the slowdown is more abrupt.