Human-Robot Collaboration Levels in Construction: Focusing on Individuals’ Cognitive Workload
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
Small collaborative ground robots that are efficiently capable of accomplishing a variety of tasks have become more ubiquitous on jobsites. With the advancement in technology and automation, it is expected that close collaborations between humans and such robots will drastically increase in the future. However, there is a need to understand how humans working with robots at different interaction levels may result in different human perceptions and cognitive workloads. In this study, a between-subject experiment was created to explore humans’ perception towards robots by measuring their cognitive workload at three different human-robot collaboration levels of coexistence, cooperation, and collaboration when accomplishing a real-world bricklaying construction task. Results showed that collaborating with small ground robots may lead to lower physical demand compared to cooperating or simply coexisting with it. However, mental demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration did not significantly differ between the three collaboration levels. The outcomes of this study provide a better understanding of the safest and most efficient human-robot collaboration practices on jobsites.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Aaltonen, I., T. Salmi, and I. Marstio. 2018. “Refining levels of collaboration to support the design and evaluation of human-robot interaction in the manufacturing industry.” Procedia CIRP, 72: 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.03.214.
Afsari, K., S. Halder, M. Ensafi, S. DeVito, and J. Serdakowski. 2021. “Fundamentals and Prospects of Four-Legged Robot Application in Construction Progress Monitoring.” EPiC Series in Built Environment, 2: 274–283. EasyChair.
Ardiny, H., S. Witwicki, and F. Mondada. 2015. “Are autonomous mobile robots able to take over construction? A review.” International Journal of Robotics.
Arents, J., V. Abolins, J. Judvaitis, O. Vismanis, A. Oraby, and K. Ozols. 2021. “Human–Robot Collaboration Trends and Safety Aspects: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks, 10 (3). https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan10030048.
Carra, G., A. Argiolas, A. Bellissima, M. Niccolini, and M. Ragaglia. 2018. “Robotics in the construction industry: State of the art and future opportunities.” 1–8. IAARC Publications.
Dakhli, Z., and Z. Lafhaj. 2017. “Robotic mechanical design for brick-laying automation.” Cogent Engineering, 4 (1): 1361600. Taylor & Francis.
García de Soto, B., I. Agustí-Juan, S. Joss, and J. Hunhevicz. 2022. “Implications of Construction 4.0 to the workforce and organizational structures.” International Journal of Construction Management, 22 (2): 205–217. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2019.1616414.
Granulo, A., C. Fuchs, and S. Puntoni. 2019. “Psychological reactions to human versus robotic job replacement.” Nature human behaviour, 3 (10): 1062–1069. Nature Publishing Group UK London.
Ardiny, H., S. Witwicki, and F. Mondada. 2015. “Construction automation with autonomous mobile robots: A review.” 2015 3rd RSI International Conference on Robotics and Mechatronics (ICROM), 418–424.
Halder, S., K. Afsari, J. Serdakowski, S. DeVito, M. Ensafi, and W. Thabet. 2022. “Real-Time and Remote Construction Progress Monitoring with a Quadruped Robot Using Augmented Reality.” Buildings, 12 (11): 2027. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
Hallowell, M. R. 2010. “Worker fatigue: Managing concerns in rapid renewal highway construction projects.” Professional safety, 55 (12): 18–26. ASSE.
Hart, S. G., and L. E. Staveland. 1988. “Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research.” Advances in psychology, 52: 139–183.
Hopko, S. K., R. Khurana, R. K. Mehta, and P. R. Pagilla. 2021. “Effect of Cognitive Fatigue, Operator Sex, and Robot Assistance on Task Performance Metrics, Workload, and Situation Awareness in Human-Robot Collaboration.” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 6 (2): 3049–3056. https://doi.org/10.1109/LRA.2021.3062787.
Hopko, J. W., and R. Mehta. 2022. “Human Factors Considerations and Metrics in Shared Space Human-Robot Collaboration: A Systematic Review.” Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 9. Frontiers Media SA.
Kim, J., D. Chung, Y. Kim, and H. Kim. 2022. “Deep learning-based 3D reconstruction of scaffolds using a robot dog.” Automation in Construction, 134: 104092. Elsevier.
Lagomarsino, M., M. Lorenzini, P. Balatti, E. De Momi, and A. Ajoudani. 2022. “Pick the right co-worker: Online assessment of cognitive ergonomics in human-robot collaborative assembly.” IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems. IEEE.
Lasota, P. A., T. Fong, and J. A. Shah. 2017. “A survey of methods for safe human-robot interaction.” Foundations and Trends® in Robotics, 5 (4): 261–349. Now Publishers, Inc.
Li, K., Q. Liu, W. Xu, J. Liu, Z. Zhou, and H. Feng. 2019. “Sequence planning considering human fatigue for human-robot collaboration in disassembly.” Procedia CIRP, 83: 95–104. Elsevier.
Li, R. Y. M. 2018. “Robots for the Construction Industry.” An Economic Analysis on Automated Construction Safety: Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and 3D Printing, R. Y. M. Li, ed., 23–46. Singapore: Springer Singapore.
Lin, J. J., and M. Golparvar-Fard. 2020. “Construction progress monitoring using cyber-physical systems.” Cyber-physical systems in the built environment, 63–87. Springer.
Michael, N., S. Shen, K. Mohta, V. Kumar, K. Nagatani, Y. Okada, S. Kiribayashi, K. Otake, K. Yoshida, and K. Ohno. 2014. “Collaborative mapping of an earthquake damaged building via ground and aerial robots.” 33–47. Springer.
Nakajima, S. 2009. “Concept of a novel four-wheel-type mobile robot for rough terrain, RT-mover.” 3257–3264. IEEE.
Park, S., H. Yu, C. C. Menassa, and V. R. Kamat. 2023. “A Comprehensive Evaluation of Factors Influencing Acceptance of Robotic Assistants in Field Construction Work.” Journal of Management in Engineering, 39 (3): 04023010. American Society of Civil Engineers.
Peternel, L., N. Tsagarakis, D. Caldwell, and A. Ajoudani. 2018. “Robot adaptation to human physical fatigue in human–robot co-manipulation.” Autonomous Robots, 42: 1011–1021. Springer.
Rubio, S., E. Diaz, J. Martin, and J. M. Puente. 2004. “Evaluation of Subjective Mental Workload: A Comparison of SWAT, NASA-TLX, and Workload Profile Methods.” Applied Psychology, 53 (1): 61–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.2004.00161.x.
Sluiter, J. K. 2006. “High-demand jobs: Age-related diversity in work ability?” Applied Ergonomics, 37 (4): 429–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2006.04.007.
Villani, V., F. Pini, F. Leali, and C. Secchi. 2018. “Survey on human–robot collaboration in industrial settings: Safety, intuitive interfaces and applications.” Mechatronics, 55: 248–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechatronics.2018.02.009.
Wang, X. V., and L. Wang. 2021. “Safety Strategy and Framework for Human–Robot Collaboration.” Advanced Human-Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing, L. Wang, X. V. Wang, J. Váncza, and Z. Kemény, eds., 69–87. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Yu, S.-N., B.-G. Ryu, S.-J. Lim, C.-J. Kim, M.-K. Kang, and C.-S. Han. 2009. “Feasibility verification of brick-laying robot using manipulation trajectory and the laying pattern optimization.” Automation in Construction, 18 (5): 644–655. Elsevier.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Published online: Mar 18, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.