Human Differences in Navigational Approaches during Tele-Robotic Search

Abstract

This study investigated the navigational approaches used by humans when operating a simple tele-robot in a simulated search and rescue operation. Tele-robots are being increasingly used in safety-critical operations. During tele-operation, the situational awareness of tele-robot operators needs to be supported. Navigation depends on psychological skills of perception and cognition, and can utlize different problem solving strategies. However, there is limited knowledge of how operators develop situational awareness while navigating tele-robots. The study was conducted to understand if there were distinctive, identifiable strategies in the way operators navigated. When participants manually tele-operated a robot in a remote physical environment, two distinct navigation strategies were found (labeled driver method and searcher method). The result of this work can be used to inform the design of human-centric tele-robot navigational algorithms that can support a variety of human navigation strategies. INTRODUCTIONTele operated robots (tele-robots) are increasingly used as integral members of teams conducting safety-critical missions, such as urban search and rescue operations (Yanco and Drury 2004). For instance, search and rescue tele-robots are sent into the disaster area to act as the remote eyes of the team and are operated manually by an operator stationed outside of the disaster area Ruangpayoongsak et al. 2005).