Exploring haptic interfacing with a mobile robot without visual feedback

PENDERS, Jacques and JONES, Peter (2012). Exploring haptic interfacing with a mobile robot without visual feedback. In: TAROS2012, Bristol, 20-25 August 2012. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Search and Rescue scenarios are often complicated by low or no visibility conditions, because of smoke or dust. The lack of visual feedback causes significant stress for human rescue workers. If a group of robots could overcome the navigation and localisation problems, they would become assistants to a human rescue worker. Trials were held with professional fire fighters; however it became clear that the human subjects by no means were prepared to give up their procedural routine. Following on from these (disappointing) findings we are exploring the context for using a robotic device in no-visibility conditions. In such conditions a haptic interface seems a natural solution and we investigate and experiment with how a human and a semi-autonomous robot can develop cooperation and become a team. The final aim is to design a robotic system and interface that will provide the human with some trust and confidence. In this paper we explore the basic design requirements for haptic human-robot interaction, starting from reviewing the interaction between a blind person and a guide dog.

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