User Experience Goals for Designing Industrial Human-Cobot Collaboration

Abstract

Pleasurable user experience (UX) is an essential design target in human-technology interaction. It helps to fulfil users’ expectations and to complete tasks successfully, in both everyday life and work contexts. In the industrial context, collaborative robots (cobots) are developed to reduce users’ workload. In this context, the human workers and cobots share tasks and the workspace. Traditionally, design of such machinery has focused on functionality and safety. One approach that focuses on designing for broader aspects of pleasurable user experience is experience-driven design (EDD). EDD allows UX designers to identify and design for certain experiences using experience goals. In this study, we explored experience goals suitable for the design of human-cobot interaction. We observed and interviewed 22 participants in a laboratory setup, where they performed a collaborative task with Franka Panda cobot. As a result, we identified four prominent UX goals: fellowship and sympathy; inspiration; safety and trust; and accomplishment.