Imperfect Robot Control in a Mixed Reality Game to Teach Hybrid Human-Robot Team Coordination

Abstract

A key component of team coordination in real-world practice involves communication and work execution from multiple perspectives; this is especially true for unmanned robotic system operators. Previously, such communication skills have been challenging to train, requiring many users and/or high-fidelity simulations. The present research develops a mixed reality game using a small robot and alternate roles to engage two players in team communication through information distribution. The robot features imperfect controls, creating challenge and reflecting the real-world context. This paper presents the game design and development challenges, reflecting on the value of mixed reality for training hybrid human-robot teams.