A Survey of Augmented Reality for Human–Robot Collaboration

Abstract

For nearly three decades, researchers have explored the use of augmented reality for facilitating collaboration between humans and robots. In this survey paper, we review the prominent, relevant literature published since 2008, the last date that a similar review article was published. We begin with a look at the various forms of the augmented reality (AR) technology itself, as utilized for human–robot collaboration (HRC). We then highlight specific application areas of AR for HRC, as well as the main technological contributions of the literature. Next, we present commonly used methods of evaluation with suggestions for implementation. We end with a look towards future research directions for this burgeoning field. This review serves as a primer and comprehensive reference for those whose work involves the combination of augmented reality with any kind of human–robot collaboration.