Research – Human Robot Interaction (HRI)
Strategies for HRI in Non-Structured Environment
Summary:
The general goal of this research is to contribute to the development of safe and effective interactions between humans and robots. In order to achieve this, it is essential that the robot is capable of perceiving its environment, specially the human reactions to the robot movements. These human reactions can be measured through physiological signals such as heart rate, perspiration rate, and muscle contraction, allowing us to identify and statistically correlate to emotions. Specifically, the research aims to understand the physiological responses originated in a person when interacting with a robot and how they can be used as feedback into the robot’s control system, so that the robot adjusts its dynamic behaviour and the person feels safe and comfortable during the interaction.
Additionally, this research is interested in robotic systems capable of working with humans in tasks where the required force is shared between the robot and the human. By responding to human reactions, a sort of human-robot “body language” is developed, and the robot system can improve the effectiveness, intuitiveness and perceived safety of the interaction. The goal is an interactive robot control methodology which results in a natural, and coordinated human-robot task sharing.
