Robotic Interactive Visualization Experimentation Technology (RIVET): Game-based simulation for human-robot interaction research

Robotic Interactive Visualization and Experimentation Technology (RIVET) is a computer-based simulation system that was developed by ARL to merge game-based technologies with current and next-generation robotic development. The original design of RIVET specifically addressed engineering-related functionality. This included the capability to test critical algorithms prior to field testing a robotic system, perform rapid consecutive test scenarios to find software bugs, and conduct algorithm verification across a wide spectrum of test scenarios. While the prior listed functional test procedures have been shown to be essential, the design of this game-based platform also lends itself to human-in-the-loop (HITL) experimentation. Here we discuss the design capabilities of RIVET that make it a valuable platform for human-robot interaction (HRI) experimentation.