The importance of specific usability guidelines for robot user interfaces

Abstract

In the field of robotics, user interfaces have the important role of aiding humans in better interactions with robots. Hence, until full autonomy becomes a reality, user interfaces are an essential way to communicate necessary information to interact with robotic systems. This article examines which principles of design have been used in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) to understand further how can usability guidelines can improve the development of user interfaces built to integrate solutions considered as “complex systems”; simultaneous compositions of software behaviors, present in a great deal of industrial solutions and HRI research. Industrial robots have been used in a variety of situations, ranging from in Situ maintenance, to space exploration and the central role of humans in the interaction with automated systems is to undertake what is called supervisory control through monitoring and supervision of operational tasks. Research in interface design can contribute significantly to increase system performance and collaboration between man and robots. As robotic systems evolve the goal for human-in-the-loop activities should not be to eliminate the human, but rather to create human-system collaboration with greater capabilities than the individual components. Therefore, the investigation of guidelines for the elaboration of the more efficient interface in the interaction with robots can greatly contribute with usability principles.