Objective: The last decades have seen a surge of robots for physical training and work assistance. How to best control these interfaces is unknown, although arguably the interaction should be similar to human movement assistance. Methods: We compare the behaviour and assessment of subjects tracking a moving target with assistance from (i) trajectory guidance (as typically used in robots for physical training), (ii) a human partner, and (iii) the reactive robot partner of Takagi et al. Results: Trajectory guidance was recognised as robotic, while the robot partner was felt as human-like. However, trajectory guidance was preferred to assistance from a human partner, which was recognised as less predictable. The robot partner also was felt to be more predictable and helpful than a human partner, and was preferred. Conclusions: While subjects like to rely on predictable interaction, such as in trajectory guidance, the control reactivity of the robot partner is essential for perceiving an interaction as human-like.
Objective: The last decades have seen a surge of robots for physical training and work assistance. How to best control these interfaces is unknown, although arguably the interaction should be similar to human movement assistance. Methods: We compare the behaviour and assessment of subjects tracking a moving target with assistance from (i) trajectory guidance (as typically used in robots for physical training), (ii) a human partner, and (iii) the reactive robot partner of Takagi et al. Results: Trajectory guidance was recognised as robotic, while the robot partner was felt as human-like. However, trajectory guidance was preferred to assistance from a human partner, which was recognised as less predictable. The robot partner also was felt to be more predictable and helpful than a human partner, and was preferred. Conclusions: While subjects like to rely on predictable interaction, such as in trajectory guidance, the control reactivity of the robot partner is essential for perceiving an interaction as human-like.
Authors: Neville Hogan; Hermano I Krebs; Brandon Rohrer; Jerome J Palazzolo; Laura Dipietro; Susan E Fasoli; Joel Stein; Richard Hughes; Walter R Frontera; Daniel Lynch; Bruce T Volpe Journal: J Rehabil Res Dev Date: 2006 Aug-Sep
Authors: Ann-Marie Hughes; Jane Burridge; Chris T Freeman; Maggie Donnovan-Hall; Paul H Chappell; Paul L Lewin; Eric Rogers; Bridget Dibb Journal: Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol Date: 2010-08-10
Authors: Ann-Marie Hughes; Jane Helena Burridge; Sara Holtum Demain; Caroline Ellis-Hill; Claire Meagher; Lisa Tedesco-Triccas; Ruth Turk; Ian Swain Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2014-03-12 Impact factor: 2.655