Developing guidelines for in-the-field control of a team of robots

In this work we explore the development of guidelines for creating “in-the-field” interfaces for enabling a single user to remotely control multiple robots. The problem of controlling a remote team of robots is complex, requiring a user to monitor and interpret robotic state and sensor information in real time, and to simultaneously communicate direction commands to the robots. The result is that a robot controller is often seated at a console; for many relevant applications such as search and rescue or firefighting this removes the user from the field of action, rendering them unable to directly participate in a task at hand. Therefore, one challenge in HRI is to develop efficient interfaces that will enable a user to effectively control and monitor a team of robots in the field. In our project we explore various interface designs in terms of supporting this goal, taking the approach of involving a panel of professionals in the design process to direct exploration and development.