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Article
Publication date: 2 July 2020

Zoltan Dobra and Krishna S. Dhir

Recent years have seen a technological change, Industry 4.0, in the manufacturing industry. Human–robot cooperation, a new application, is increasing and facilitating…

1277

Abstract

Purpose

Recent years have seen a technological change, Industry 4.0, in the manufacturing industry. Human–robot cooperation, a new application, is increasing and facilitating collaboration without fences, cages or any kind of separation. The purpose of the paper is to review mainstream academic publications to evaluate the current status of human–robot cooperation and identify potential areas of further research.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review is offered that searches, appraises, synthetizes and analyses relevant works.

Findings

The authors report the prevailing status of human–robot collaboration, human factors, complexity/ programming, safety, collision avoidance, instructing the robot system and other aspects of human–robot collaboration.

Practical implications

This paper identifies new directions and potential research in practice of human–robot collaboration, such as measuring the degree of collaboration, integrating human–robot cooperation into teamwork theories, effective functional relocation of the robot and product design for human robot collaboration.

Originality/value

This paper will be useful for three cohorts of readers, namely, the manufacturers who require a baseline for development and deployment of robots; users of robots-seeking manufacturing advantage and researchers looking for new directions for further exploration of human–machine collaboration.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 47 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 November 2023

Jonas Koreis, Dominic Loske and Matthias Klumpp

Increasing personnel costs and labour shortages have pushed retailers to give increasing attention to their intralogistics operations. We study hybrid order picking systems, in…

168

Abstract

Purpose

Increasing personnel costs and labour shortages have pushed retailers to give increasing attention to their intralogistics operations. We study hybrid order picking systems, in which humans and robots share work time, workspace and objectives and are in permanent contact. This necessitates a collaboration of humans and their mechanical coworkers (cobots).

Design/methodology/approach

Through a longitudinal case study on individual-level technology adaption, we accompanied a pilot testing of an industrial truck that automatically follows order pickers in their travel direction. Grounded on empirical field research and a unique large-scale data set comprising N = 2,086,260 storage location visits, where N = 57,239 storage location visits were performed in a hybrid setting and N = 2,029,021 in a manual setting, we applied a multilevel model to estimate the impact of this cobot settings on task performance.

Findings

We show that cobot settings can reduce the time required for picking tasks by as much as 33.57%. Furthermore, practical factors such as product weight, pick density and travel distance mitigate this effect, suggesting that cobots are especially beneficial for short-distance orders.

Originality/value

Given that the literature on hybrid order picking systems has primarily applied simulation approaches, the study is among the first to provide empirical evidence from a real-world setting. The results are discussed from the perspective of Industry 5.0 and can prevent managers from making investment decisions into ineffective robotic technology.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 August 2021

Anil Kumar Inkulu, M.V.A. Raju Bahubalendruni, Ashok Dara and SankaranarayanaSamy K.

In the present era of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing automation is moving toward mass production and mass customization through human–robot collaboration. The purpose of this…

2148

Abstract

Purpose

In the present era of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing automation is moving toward mass production and mass customization through human–robot collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to describe various human–robot collaborative (HRC) techniques and their applicability for various manufacturing methods along with key challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerous recent relevant research literature has been analyzed, and various human–robot interaction methods have been identified, and detailed discussions are made on one- and two-way human–robot collaboration.

Findings

The challenges in implementing human–robot collaboration for various manufacturing process and the challenges in one- and two-way collaboration between human and robot are found and discussed.

Originality/value

The authors have attempted to classify the HRC techniques and demonstrated the challenges in different modes.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 49 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 January 2024

Anil Kumar Inkulu and M.V.A. Raju Bahubalendruni

In the current era of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing industries are striving toward mass production with mass customization by considering human–robot collaboration. This study…

Abstract

Purpose

In the current era of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing industries are striving toward mass production with mass customization by considering human–robot collaboration. This study aims to propose the reconfiguration of assembly systems by incorporating multiple humans with robots using a human–robot task allocation (HRTA) to enhance productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A human–robot task scheduling approach has been developed by considering task suitability, resource availability and resource selection through multicriteria optimization using the Linear Regression with Optimal Point and Minimum Distance Calculation algorithm. Using line-balancing techniques, the approach estimates the optimum number of resources required for assembly tasks operating by minimum idle time.

Findings

The task allocation schedule for a case study involving a punching press was solved using human–robot collaboration, and the approach incorporated the optimum number of appropriate resources to handle different types of proportion of resources.

Originality/value

This proposed work integrates the task allocation by human–robot collaboration and decrease the idle time of resource by integrating optimum number of resources.

Details

Robotic Intelligence and Automation, vol. 44 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-6969

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 13 November 2023

Sheuli Paul

This paper presents a survey of research into interactive robotic systems for the purpose of identifying the state of the art capabilities as well as the extant gaps in this…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper presents a survey of research into interactive robotic systems for the purpose of identifying the state of the art capabilities as well as the extant gaps in this emerging field. Communication is multimodal. Multimodality is a representation of many modes chosen from rhetorical aspects for its communication potentials. The author seeks to define the available automation capabilities in communication using multimodalities that will support a proposed Interactive Robot System (IRS) as an AI mounted robotic platform to advance the speed and quality of military operational and tactical decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

This review will begin by presenting key developments in the robotic interaction field with the objective of identifying essential technological developments that set conditions for robotic platforms to function autonomously. After surveying the key aspects in Human Robot Interaction (HRI), Unmanned Autonomous System (UAS), visualization, Virtual Environment (VE) and prediction, the paper then proceeds to describe the gaps in the application areas that will require extension and integration to enable the prototyping of the IRS. A brief examination of other work in HRI-related fields concludes with a recapitulation of the IRS challenge that will set conditions for future success.

Findings

Using insights from a balanced cross section of sources from the government, academic, and commercial entities that contribute to HRI a multimodal IRS in military communication is introduced. Multimodal IRS (MIRS) in military communication has yet to be deployed.

Research limitations/implications

Multimodal robotic interface for the MIRS is an interdisciplinary endeavour. This is not realistic that one can comprehend all expert and related knowledge and skills to design and develop such multimodal interactive robotic interface. In this brief preliminary survey, the author has discussed extant AI, robotics, NLP, CV, VDM, and VE applications that is directly related to multimodal interaction. Each mode of this multimodal communication is an active research area. Multimodal human/military robot communication is the ultimate goal of this research.

Practical implications

A multimodal autonomous robot in military communication using speech, images, gestures, VST and VE has yet to be deployed. Autonomous multimodal communication is expected to open wider possibilities for all armed forces. Given the density of the land domain, the army is in a position to exploit the opportunities for human–machine teaming (HMT) exposure. Naval and air forces will adopt platform specific suites for specially selected operators to integrate with and leverage this emerging technology. The possession of a flexible communications means that readily adapts to virtual training will enhance planning and mission rehearsals tremendously.

Social implications

Interaction, perception, cognition and visualization based multimodal communication system is yet missing. Options to communicate, express and convey information in HMT setting with multiple options, suggestions and recommendations will certainly enhance military communication, strength, engagement, security, cognition, perception as well as the ability to act confidently for a successful mission.

Originality/value

The objective is to develop a multimodal autonomous interactive robot for military communications. This survey reports the state of the art, what exists and what is missing, what can be done and possibilities of extension that support the military in maintaining effective communication using multimodalities. There are some separate ongoing progresses, such as in machine-enabled speech, image recognition, tracking, visualizations for situational awareness, and virtual environments. At this time, there is no integrated approach for multimodal human robot interaction that proposes a flexible and agile communication. The report briefly introduces the research proposal about multimodal interactive robot in military communication.

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2020

Chengguo Zong, Zhijian Ji, Junzhi Yu and Haisheng Yu

The purpose of this paper is to study the adaptability of the tracked robot in complex working environment. It proposes an angle-changeable tracked robot with human–robot

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the adaptability of the tracked robot in complex working environment. It proposes an angle-changeable tracked robot with human–robot interaction in unstructured environment. The study aims to present the mechanical structure and human–robot interaction control system of the tracked robot and analyze the static stability of the robot working in three terrains, i.e. rugged terrain, sloped terrain and stairs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the mechanical structure and human–robot interaction control system of the tracked robot. To prevent the detachment of the tracks during obstacle navigation, a new type of passively adaptive device based on the relationship between the track’s variable angle and the forces is presented. Then three types of rough terrain are chosen to analyze the static stability of the tracked robot, i.e. rugged terrain, sloped terrain and stairs.

Findings

This paper provides the design method of the tracked robot. Owing to its appropriate dimensions, good mass distribution and limited velocity, the tracked robot remains stable on the complex terrains. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the design method.

Originality/value

The theoretical analysis of this paper provides basic reference for the structural design of tracked robots.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 40 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 May 2021

Xuanyi Zhou, Jilin He, Dingping Chen, Junsong Li, Chunshan Jiang, Mengyuan Ji and Miaolei He

Nowadays, the global agricultural system is highly dependent on the widespread use of synthetic pesticides to control diseases, weeds and insects. The unmanned aerial vehicle…

Abstract

Purpose

Nowadays, the global agricultural system is highly dependent on the widespread use of synthetic pesticides to control diseases, weeds and insects. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is deployed as a major part of integrated pest management in a precision agriculture system for accurately and cost-effectively distributing pesticides to resist crop diseases and insect pests.

Design/methodology/approach

With multimodal sensor fusion applying adaptive cubature Kalman filter, the position and velocity are enhanced for the correction and accuracy. A dynamic movement primitive is combined with the Gaussian mixture model to obtain numerous trajectories through the teaching of a demonstration. Further, to enhance the trajectory tracking accuracy under an uncertain environment of the spraying, a novel model reference adaptive sliding mode control approach is proposed for motion control.

Findings

Experimental studies have been carried out to test the ability of the proposed interface for the pesticides in the crop fields. The effectiveness of the proposed interface has been demonstrated by the experimental results.

Originality/value

To solve the path planning problem of a complex unstructured environment, a human-robot skills transfer interface is introduced for the UAV that is instructed to follow a trajectory demonstrated by a human teacher.

Details

Assembly Automation, vol. 41 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-5154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 2006

Hasanuzzaman, T. Zhang, V. Ampornaramveth and H. Ueno

Achieving natural interactions by means of vision and speech between humans and robots is one of the major goals that many researchers are working on. This paper aims to describe…

Abstract

Purpose

Achieving natural interactions by means of vision and speech between humans and robots is one of the major goals that many researchers are working on. This paper aims to describe a gesture‐based human‐robot interaction (HRI) system using a knowledge‐based software platform.

Design/methodology/approach

A frame‐based knowledge model is defined for the gesture interpretation and HRI. In this knowledge model, necessary frames are defined for the known users, robots, poses, gestures and robot behaviors. First, the system identifies the user using the eigenface method. Then, face and hand poses are segmented from the camera frame buffer using the person's specific skin color information and classified by the subspace method.

Findings

The system is capable of recognizing static gestures comprised of the face and hand poses, and dynamic gestures of face in motion. The system combines computer vision and knowledge‐based approaches in order to improve the adaptability to different people.

Originality/value

Provides information on an experimental HRI system that has been implemented in the frame‐based software platform for agent and knowledge management using the AIBO entertainment robot, and this has been demonstrated to be useful and efficient within a limited situation.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 33 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 October 2014

Ping Zhang, Guanglong Du and Di Li

The aim of this paper is to present a novel methodology which incorporates Camshift, Kalman filter (KFs) and adaptive multi-space transformation (AMT) for a human-robot interface…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a novel methodology which incorporates Camshift, Kalman filter (KFs) and adaptive multi-space transformation (AMT) for a human-robot interface, which perfects human intelligence and teleoperation.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed method, an inertial measurement unit is used to measure the orientation of the human hand, and a Camshift algorithm is used to track the human hand using a three-dimensional camera. Although the location and the orientation of the human can be obtained from the two sensors, the measurement error increases over time due to the noise of the devices and the tracking errors. KFs are used to estimate the location and the orientation of the human hand. Moreover, to be subject to the perceptive limitations and the motor limitations, human operator is hard to carry out the high precision operation. An AMT method is proposed to assist the operator to improve accuracy and reliability in determining the pose of the robot.

Findings

The experimental results show that this method would not hinder most natural human-limb motion and allows the operator to concentrate on his/her own task. Compared with the non-contacting marker-less method (Kofman et al., 2007), this method proves more accurate and stable.

Originality/value

The human-robot interface system was experimentally verified in a laboratory environment, and the results indicate that such a system can complete high-precision manipulation efficiently.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 41 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2016

Ryo Mashimo, Tatsuya Kitamura, Tomohiro Umetani and Akiyo Nadamoto

This paper aims to propose a system that generates dialogue scenarios automatically in real time from Web news articles. Then, the authors used the Manzai metaphor, a form of…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a system that generates dialogue scenarios automatically in real time from Web news articles. Then, the authors used the Manzai metaphor, a form of Japanese traditional humorous comedy, in the system. The generated Manzai scenario consists of snappy patter and a humorous misunderstanding of dialogue based on the gap of our structure of funny points. The authors create communication robots to amuse people with the generated humorous robot dialogue scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose the following: how to generate funny dialogue-based scenario from Web news and Web intelligence, automatically? How to create direction of robots based on the pre-experiment? The authors conducted experiments from three viewpoints, namely, effectiveness of Manzai scenarios as content, effectiveness of Manzai-Robots as a medium and familiarity of Manzai-Robots.

Findings

In this paper, the authors find two points, namely, the new communication style called “human–robots implicit communication-and bridging the knowledge gap using Web intelligence, to communicate smoothly between humans and robots.

Originality/value

Numerous studies have examined communication robots that mutually communicate with people. However, for several reasons, communicating smoothly with people is difficult for robots. One reason is the problem of communication style. Another is knowledge gaps separating humans and robots. The authors propose a new communication style to solve the problems and designate the communication style based on dialogue between robots as “human-robot implicit communication”. The authors then create communication robots to communicate with people naturally, smoothly and with familiarity according to their dialogue.

Details

International Journal of Web Information Systems, vol. 12 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-0084

Keywords

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