A Decision Support Design Framework for Selecting a Robotic Interface

Abstract

The design and development of robots involve the essential step of selecting and testing robotic interfaces. This interface selection requires careful consideration as the robot’s physical embodiment influences and adds to the traditional interfaces’ complexities. Our paper presents a decision support design framework for the a priori selection of robotic interface that was inductively formulated from our case study of designing a robot to collaborate with employees with cognitive disabilities. Our main contribution is to provide a novel framework that outlines the interface requirements according to user, robot, tasks and environment and facilitates a structured comparison of interfaces against those requirements. The framework is assessed for its potential applicability and usefulness through a qualitative study with HRI experts. The framework is appreciated as a systematic tool that enables documentation and discussion, and identified issues inform the framework’s iteration. The themes of ownership of this process in interdisciplinary teams and its role in iteratively designing interfaces are discussed.