Title
A flexible delegation-type interface enhances system performance in human supervision of multiple robots: empirical studies with RoboFlag
Abstract
Three experiments and a computational analysis were conducted to investigate the effects of a delegation-type interface on human supervision of simulated multiple unmanned vehicles. Participants supervised up to eight robots using automated behaviors ("plays"), manual (waypoint) control, or both to capture the flag of an opponent with an equal number of robots, using a simple form of a delegation-type interface, Playbook. Experiment 1 showed that the delegation interface increased mission success rate and reduced mission completion time when the opponent "posture" was unpredictably offensive or defensive. Experiment 2 showed that performance was superior when operators could flexibly use both automated behaviors and manual control, although there was a small increase in subjective workload. Experiment 3 investigated additional dimensions of flexibility by comparing delegation interfaces to restricted interfaces. Eight interfaces were tested, varying in the level of abstraction at which robot behavior could be tasked and the level of aggregation (single or multiple robots) to which plays could be assigned. Performance was superior with flexible interfaces for four robots, but this benefit was eliminated when eight robots had to be supervised. Finally, a computational analysis using task-network modeling and Monte Carlo simulation gave results that closely paralleled the empirical data on changes in workload across interface type. The results provide initial empirical evidence for the efficacy of delegation-type interfaces in human supervision of a team of multiple autonomous robots.
Year
DOI
Venue
2005
10.1109/TSMCA.2005.850598
Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Part A: Systems and Humans, IEEE Transactions
Keywords
Field
DocType
Monte Carlo methods,man-machine systems,mobile robots,multi-robot systems,remotely operated vehicles,telerobotics,user interfaces,Monte Carlo simulation,RoboFlag,computational analysis,flexible delegation type interface,human-robot interface,multiple robots,multiple unmanned vehicles,task-network modeling,Automation,Playbook,delegation,human–robot interaction,unmanned vehicles
Computer science,Simulation,Automation,Behavior-based robotics,Delegation,Robot,User interface,Telerobotics,Mobile robot,Human–robot interaction
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
35
4
1083-4427
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
36
2.75
13
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Raja Parasuraman11399164.79
Galster, S.2362.75
Squire, P.3362.75
Hiroshi Furukawa421131.32