Dynamic Robot Operator Interface Design (DROID) Assessment, Guidance & Engineering Tool (AGENT)

The overarching objective of this research and development effort is to advance the current state of human-robot interaction (HRI), developing a theoretically and empirically-based design science that is grounded in best practices and validated principles of human performance and human-systems integration (HSI). The resulting scientific methodology and design process will support improved methods of interface design and assessment, as well as a closer collaboration between robot developers and interface design specialists. To this end, the proposed effort seeks to design, develop, and provide initial validation for a Dynamic Robot Operator Interface Design (DROID) Assessment, Guidance, and Engineering Tool (AGENT). The DROID AGENT will consist of a smart agent software architecture and underlying database and ontology to support automated HRI design guidance based on scientifically-grounded design principles and validated assessment metrics. The DROID AGENT will support a multi-disciplinary HRI design process that involves key stakeholders from across domains. While the current effort will focus primarily on HRI within the context of military, aerospace, and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations, the resulting design science, standards, and methodologies will ultimately be applicable within a wide variety of applications such as industrial and consumer robotics.