Evaluation of Remote Interface Component Alternatives for Teaching Tele-Robotic Operation

Introduction

This chapter focuses on the design of an interface for remote learning of robotics operations. The interface design, which is supported by technical guidelines, is general and applicable for a wide variety tools for teaching tele-robotic operation. It differs from previous research in the field, which often focuses on a specific applicative interface.

The proposed interface includes aspects of remote manipulation of robots with aspects of remote learning. The motivation for such integration is to enable users to practice not only the remote activation of a robotic cell but also the availability of learning, redesigning and optimizing the work plan in the cell. The chapter starts by considering three possible design schemes: a “Home-based,” a “Lab-based” and a “Website-based.” It identifies different interface components that support a remote telerobotic-learning. Then it measures and evaluates the interactions among these components as well as their effects and usability within a proposed remote learning interface. Such an evaluation is conducted by running a set of experiments, requiring the users to execute specific robotic tasks from a remote location while examining their performance over various interface settings. The performance of the remote users is also compared with hands-on operation, which is used as a benchmark setting.

The evaluation tool of the web-based interface for the telerobotic learning is called the Test-Oriented-Interface (TOI). As the chapter unfolds, elements within this interface are evaluated, focusing on their contribution to the remote learning assignments. A full set of guidelines for designing a remote learning interface is extracted from the evaluation of the TOI. The objective of these guidelines is to maximize the benefits obtained from the interface for the users (e.g., students) as well as for the hosting institute (e.g., university). Finally, we present how the new web-interface for remote learning of robotic operations is implemented and fully operated in the CIM laboratory.