WHEN: 12 Sep
WHERE: Zoom
Collaborative robots are transforming industrial environments by working safely alongside humans and enhancing operational efficiency. Unlike traditional robots, cobots are designed for close human collaboration, which introduces challenges in scenarios requiring precise control and real-time feedback, such as the installation and removal of bushings in mining equipment. Hydraulic systems, favored for their high-power density in such applications, currently rely on binary controls and low-resolution feedback, leading to safety risks due to the reliance on visual and auditory cues.
This seminar explores the integration of haptic feedback in cobot-controlled hydraulic systems to provide more intuitive operator control. We focus on a novel adaptive trigger mechanism that simulates pressure build-up, adding a tactile dimension to existing visual and auditory feedback. A user study evaluated the effectiveness of various feedback types—visual, sound, vibration, and the adaptive trigger—assessing performance, comfort, confidence, and cognitive demand.
Results showed no significant performance improvement with the adaptive trigger compared to other feedback forms. However, there was a slight preference for the adaptive trigger in terms of comfort and confidence, while vibration feedback was less favored and slightly reduced performance. These findings suggest that while the adaptive trigger’s performance benefits are modest, its potential to enhance user comfort and confidence is noteworthy. The seminar will also discuss future directions for integrating multimodal feedback to improve safety and efficiency in cobot operations within hazardous environments.
Presenter: Danial Rizvi, PhD researcher from UTS
Collaborators: Munia Ahamed, Dr Tony Le, Dr Sheila Sutjipto and Dr Gavin Paul