HLR 2014 - Special Session on Human-in-the-Loop Robotics

The interaction and collaboration between humans and robots has been announced as a promising approach to creating effective and flexible production processes, because it combines the strength and the efficiency of robots with the high degree of dexterity and the cognitive capabilities of humans into a flexible overall system. New robotic systems enable dynamic role-allocation, fault-tolerant control schemes, appropriate handling of unforeseen events, advanced perception, and other capabilities. Such systems cooperate with human operators while keeping them in the loop of production processes. Programming and operating the systems require from the operator high level of perceptual and cognitive skills. There is growing interest in exploring ways in which people can acquire these skills through practice. This workshop aims to bring together academic researchers, educational practitioners and technology specialists and promote exchange of ideas and collaboration based on the common interest in learning and collaboration with industrial robots. The participants will discuss approaches and practices that motivate learning of the robotic production processes and facilitate effective training of robot operation skills.