Special issue on human robot collaboration

International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems, 2017

Human–robot collaboration is a key factor for the development of factories of the future, a space in which humans and robots can work and carry out tasks together. Safety is one of the most critical aspects in this collaborative human–robot paradigm. This article describes the experiments done and results achieved by the authors in the context of the FourByThree project, aiming to measure the trust of workers on fenceless human–robot collaboration in industrial robotic applications as well as to gauge the acceptance of different interaction mechanisms between robots and human beings.

Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2021), 2021

This communication discusses the resulting changes in the field of design project management generated by the industry of the future and its promises, with a special focus on collaborative robotics. Among the guiding issues of this work, we will focus on the importance of including such an intention to cobotize some or all of the tasks initially assigned to human operators, during the strategic stakes of the design process and to instruct and support it by the potential contributions of a bottum up approach centered on the real activities, mobilized and deployed during the realization of the tasks which are objects of cobotization. This discussion is based on an industrial case study, aimed at assisting a finishing workstation (the last stage of a production process) for fragile mechanical parts used in the manufacture of metal parts for the aeronautics sector.

IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, 2021

With the vision of Industry 4.0 and cobots, working conditions in industrial settings are starting to change. We review related literature from the fields of human-robot interaction, work and organizational psychology, and sociology of work, as well as an exemplary project case study, and identify research gaps regarding the implications of cobots for work environments. We argue that we are in a transition phase from automation to actual collaboration with robots in manufacturing, and that this will open up a new problem space for investigations, in which a practice lens will be crucial. Based on this, we propose a research agenda for social practice and workplace studies to explore the sociotechnical environment of Industry 4.0 involving cobots at the individual, team, and organizational levels.

2017

To be able to stay competitive it is important to take advantage of new technology and research. Human-Industrial Robot Collaboration (HIRC) is a concept of a work task division between human and an industrial robot in a shared work space. It is only during the recent years that the idea of automation concepts that includes humans, have been realized, but with specialized small robots, cobots. In systems where an industrial robot traditionally is used there are usually rigorous safety systems consisting of fences to keep the human safe. However, for many tasks in the heavy industry the cobots are too weak and an industrial robot is needed. There are a lot of benefits with automated systems and therefore it is valuable to find a solution where the strengths of an industrial robot are mixed with the abilities of humans. In this project, the collaboration between a human and an industrial robot has been investigated. For a HIRC it will be important to let the human do the task best sui...

DESIGN MODELLING SYMPOSIUM KASSEL 2024 – SCALABLE DISRUPTORS (re)new(able) materials and circular design and construction processes, 2024

The paper explores integrating cyber-physical systems in construction, targeting workforce shortages, productivity issues, and environmental concerns. It highlights the shift towards human-robot collaboration (HRC) to enhance productivity and safety. However, HRC implementation in prefabrication and construction encounters challenges like low productivity and worker lack of trust. To address these, the paper advocates for reflexive research methods to understand workers' needs and promote inclusivity in HRC design. It examines the relevance of feminist technoscience perspectives (FTS) in addressing industry needs and fostering inclusivity in HRC design. Through an analysis of three case studies in HRC, the paper identifies research gaps and proposes strategies to enhance HRC design for prefabrication and construction. It emphasizes the significance of the FTS Framework in guiding these efforts. The FTS Framework assesses and informs HRC design for construction. It raises designers' awareness of power dynamics, biases, and inclusivity issues. The chosen case studies illustrate collaborations among diverse agents, human augmentation in design and fabrication processes, and usability of HRC designs. The paper evaluates the case studies using the four perspectives of the FTS Framework: Embodiment, Reconfiguration, Interrelations, and Participation. These perspectives guide efforts to adapt HRC designs to workers' needs, address on-site challenges, redistribute agency for inclusivity, and involve users in the design process. Leveraging the FTS Framework, the paper aims to address automation challenges in construction and facilitate the transition of HRC from laboratory settings to industry applications.

Zeki sistemler teori ve uygulamaları dergisi, 2020

Collaborative Robots (Cobots) play an increasing role in the advanced manufacturing landscape. The cobot market is rapidly expanding, and the academic literature is similarly growing. This paper presents a short overview of current cobotic trends and futures frontiers of the cobot development with particular emphasis on the role of cobots within the Industry 4.0-paradigm and within global megatrends. Since there is a strange, but distinct lack of literature reviews on the topic of collaborative robotics, the paper provides novel and valuable insights. In highlighting current frontiers, the paper also illustrates potential developments of future human-robot interaction.

3rd World Conference on Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2019

According to many, we are at the brink of the fourth industrial revolution. The theme of Industry 4.0 is "Smart Manufacturing for the Future". Now, some futurists even discuss what the fifth industrial revolution's theme will be. There are a few visions for Industry 5.0. One emerging theme is human-robot co-working. In recent years, we have seen significant advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) research. Today, there are robots for various purposes at affordable prices in the market. It is not long before we closely interact with robots in our lives and workplaces. Testing autonomous cars in traffic is a promising example of this upcoming trend. There are companies having an employee record for robots or AI applications. While there are many studies on human-robot collaboration for low-level tasks with a focus on robot development, we lack studies focusing on organizational issues emerging from human-robot co-working. In this study, we discuss the possible issues related to human-robot co-working from the organizational and human employee's perspectives. We believe the issues identified in this study will be the focus of many upcoming organizational robotics research studies.

Deleted Journal, 2024

Over the past two decades, the field of Robotics in Construction has evolved into an interdisciplinary research domain that combines a multitude of pressing technologies. This work introduces an innovative review framework that assesses the interconnection between robotics in construction and automation, while also examining advancements in technologies. In this research, a novel classification framework was created and a comprehensive literature review was performed to shed light on recent developments in the field of robotic construction. The objectives are to delineate the diverse dimensions of robotics in construction, uncover the underlying themes and sub-themes within these dimensions, identify key research gaps in the current studies, and provide recommendations for future research endeavors. This paper concluded that the existing research focus primarily on technical aspects in robotics within construction, neglecting environmental considerations, while identifying a lack of long-term studies on structural performance, hindering concerns about durability. Additionally, challenges persist in integrating robotics into construction workflows without disruption, compounded by the absence of standardized practices and regulations, alongside concerns about safe humanrobot interaction, affordability, and accessibility. Furthermore, inadequate training programs for workers and ethical concerns regarding job displacement, privacy, and societal impacts underscore the need for careful examination in the responsible and ethical deployment of robotics technologies. Finally, research efforts should emphasize the development of user-friendly interfaces and ergonomic designs for construction robots to Journal of Building Design and Environment enhance their usability and acceptance among workers, ultimately contributing to the successful integration of robotics into construction practices.

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of Control, Dynamic Systems, and Robotics (CDSR'20), 2020

Collaborative robots (cobots) have emerged as a technological solution for enhanced manipulation of objects while allowing safe interaction with a human counterpart. Although substantial developments in Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) systems have taken place in the last decade, no conceptual framework of their composition is available. The literature provides an unclear process of how to integrate human-robot interaction levels and their roles with safety and communication technologies into HRC systems. To design an ergonomic HRC system (in its physical and cognitive dimensions) a clear identification and categorization of its components is required. This paper presents a literature review analysis that identifies the tendencies of HRC in the manufacturing sector. An initial distinction between application by type of industry and task is carried out. Afterward, interaction levels in HRC systems are examined, both individually and collectively, depending on the application area. Work roles of humans and robots, safety settings, and communication interfaces are also analyzed as part of the interaction levels in the primary composition of HRC systems. Their presence and distribution along 50 selected cases are also explored. The analyzed data, results, and observations presented in this paper demonstrate clear tendencies for specific components that were identified as necessary for improving future designs of human-centered HRC systems.

2020

The increase in customization is pushing companies to use more advanced automation technologies in their production lines. Yet, assembly operations are predominantly performed by humans because of their ability to be flexible. The emergence of industrial collaborative robots provides an opportunity to have robots work alongside humans in a flexible and collaborative application. The aim of this study is to explore the industrial collaborative robot capabilities in a collaborative application compared to traditional robot applications. This interview study draws data from four companies with experience in industrial collaborative robot applications. The companies involved in this study experienced that there are several benefits of using an industrial collaborative robot but challenges still exist, in particular related to usability and the robot integration process.

Production & Manufacturing Research

Industry 4.0 aims to support the factory of the future, involving increased use of information systems and new ways of using automation, such as collaboration where a robot and a human share work on a single task. We propose a classification of collaboration levels for Human-Robot collaboration (HRC) in manufacturing that we call levels of collaboration (LoC), formed to provide a conceptual model conducive to the design of assembly lines incorporating HRC. This paper aims to provide a more theoretical foundation for such a tool based on relevant theories from cognitive science and other perspectives of human-technology interaction, strengthening the validity and scientific rigour of the envisioned LoC tool. The main contributions consist of a theoretical grounding to motivate the transition from automation to collaboration, which are intended to facilitate expanding the LoC classification to support HRC, as well as an initial visualization of the LoC approach. Future work includes fully defining the LoC classification as well as operationalizing functionally different cooperation types. We conclude that collaboration is a means to an end, so collaboration is not entered for its own sake, and that collaboration differs fundamentally from more commonly used views where automation is the focus.

IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine

The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2019

This paper introduces BAZAR, a collaborative robot that integrates the most advanced sensing and actuating devices in a unique system designed for the Industry 4.0. We present BAZAR's three main features, which are all paramount in the factory of the future. These features are: mobility for navigating in dynamic environments, interaction for operating side-by-side with human workers and dual arm manipulation for transporting and assembling bulky objects. Keywords Efficient, flexible and modular production • Robotics • Smart Assembly • Human-robot co-working • Real industrial world case studies • Digital Manufacturing and Assembly System • Machine Learning.

Buildings, 2023

2013

Industrial robotics is currently witnessing a phase where a lot of effort is directed towards applications of standard industrial robots in smaller industries with short production lines, where the environment is rather unstructured and rapidly changing. Standard industrial robot systems face limitations in their ability to adapt to these environments, and with the complexity of some tasks which seem relatively easier to humans. We present a framework for intuitive symbiotic human robot collaboration in industrial scenarios, where the differing capabilities of human and robot can be combined in a way which enhances the overall effectiveness of the process.