Abstract: Recent advances in computation,
sensing, and hardware enable robotics to perform an increasing percentage of
traditionally manual tasks in manufacturing. Yet, often the assembly mechanic
cannot be removed entirely from the process. This provides new economic
motivation to explore opportunities where human workers and industrial robots
may work in close physical collaboration. In this talk, I present the
development of new algorithmic techniques for collaborative plan execution that
scale to real-world industrial applications. I also discuss the design of new models for
robot planning, which use insights and data derived from the planning and
execution strategies employed by successful human teams, to support more
seamless robot participation in human work practices. This includes models for human-robot
team training, which involves hands-on practice to clarify sequencing and
timing of actions, and for team planning, which includes communication to
negotiate and clarify allocation and sequencing of work. The aim is to support
both the human and robot workers in co-developing a common understanding of task
responsibilities and information requirements, to produce more effective human-robot
partnerships.
- This event has passed.