Piet van Gool

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About

Piet van Gool is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and workplace psychology, with a focus on how automation reshapes employee well-being and performance. His work centers on the critical intersection of collaborative robotics, job design, and occupational health, particularly in logistics and warehouse environments. Van Gool’s most-cited study (2024, 9 citations) experimentally investigates how working alongside Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) influences employee boredom and task performance, revealing that the interplay between workload and autonomy is pivotal in preventing the negative effects of “robotisation.” This research provides essential insights for designing human-centric automation, demonstrating that successful implementation of collaborative robots depends not only on technology but on preserving meaningful human control and engagement. Van Gool’s contributions are especially timely as industries rapidly adopt AGVs, and his work offers evidence-based guidance for balancing efficiency gains with employee satisfaction. His findings challenge simplistic views of automation, showing that without careful job redesign, robots can inadvertently increase worker disengagement. For students and practitioners in human factors, industrial engineering, and organizational psychology, van Gool’s research is a vital resource for understanding how to build workplaces where humans and robots truly collaborate.