PhD Researcher

Jasper Vermeulen

Project based at

Lead Partner Organisation

Human Factors in Collaborative Robotics

This project will explore the human factors of ergonomics in human-robot collaboration. When humans and collaborative robots start working together in close proximity on the same tasks, issues of human factors can arise. Herein, the project explores which factors are relevant in improving these human-robot interactions to ultimately support the adoption of Cobotic applications. This project employs a socio-technical systems approach to gain an understanding of how human workers and cobots jointly shape their collaboration. As such, a holistic overview will be provided that assists roboticists, designers and industry actors in actively implementing human-centered design principles in human-robot collaborative applications. Examining and mapping human factors in Cobotics is fundamental to designing socio-technical robotic systems that improve human work conditions in Industry 5.0.

Principal Supervisor: Associate Professor Glenda Caldwell

Outcomes

Upon completing this research, we expect to develop:

• A human-centered design approach for Cobotics in manufacturing and other industries like healthcare
• Novel insights regarding the interrelationships of humans and collaborative robots in the workplace of industry partners.
• A conceptual model to assist in addressing human factors while integrating cobotic systems.

Main Partner Organisation: Stryker.
Associate Partner Organisation: B&R Enclosures