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Based on our user research over the past 8
months of the Human Computer Interaction
Capstone, we have selected 4 primary design
themes to direct our new design, Multiple Command Ability, Situational Awareness, Simultaneus Status Update, and Correction for Uncertainty and Error. You can also find various Downloads of our solution on this page.
Multiple Command Ability
In-situ retasking primary focus is giving new commands to a robot. The importance of commanding a
robot was paramount in all of our contextual inquiries.
However, the amount and complexity of the commanding varied. This data showed that the ability to command
a rover on many levels was extremely important to
robot operators. With this in mind, the design theme of
multiple command abilities focuses on making sure that
any single command can be given in many ways. It is the
hope that this affordance will ensure any type of user,
from the advanced roboticist to the scientist, is equally
able to retask a robot.
Situational Awareness
In order to command a robot the user must understand
the surroundings of the robot. Our user research shows
that prior to commanding a robot a user would look at
pictures, or if collocated, look at the robot itself before issuing commands. The user would also attempt to visualize the actions of the robot prior to sending commands.
In-situ retasking asks the user to issue new commands
based on new situational awareness and therefore, the
design of the interface must allow for the new information to be quickly absorbed and understood by the user
prior to issuing new commands.
Simultaneous Status Update
User data showed that the process of in-situ retasking
has multiple cyclical steps, strategize, detailed tactical
commands, receive new data, and then repeat. These
steps are separate, however, they are also interrelated
due to their cyclical nature. Each step affects both the
previous and next step. Our design reflects this by showing the effects of one interface area on the others. This
allows the robotic operator to better understand the
consequences of his actions on multiple levels. Correction for Uncertainty and Error
Unfortunately, errors and uncertainty, in general and
in robotics is unavoidable. This is especially important
when the user is not co-located with the robot because
they are not able to physically intervene if necessary. We
also observed that users did not completely trust the
situational awareness of the robot and often desired to
see the situation with their own eyes, this was due to the
uncertainty associated with the robot perception of its
surroundings. Our design reflects this by allowing the
user to correct the robot during communication points.
The ability to correct and adjust for uncertainty gives
the user the assurance that even if the robot makes a
mistake the robotic operator will be able to make appropriate adjustments, thereby lowering the anxiety caused
by the possibility of errors or uncertainty.
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