Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Human-Robot Interaction

Abstract

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising new tool for research in human-robot interaction. The technology has already been used for brain-robot and brain-computer interfaces and as an evaluation tool for assessing cognitive activity during interactions. In this survey, we provide a comprehensive literature review of published research using fNIRS from various communities to assess the utility of fNIRS in HRI. We discuss three exemplary applications in more detail and also list several challenges that need to be overcome before fNIRS is suited for sustained practical applications in realistic HRI settings.