Assessing worker performance using dynamic cost functions in human robot collaborative tasks

Smith, Thomas; Benardos, Panorios; Branson, David

Abstract

The aim of this research is to develop a framework to allow efficient Human Robot, HR, collaboration on manufacturing assembly tasks based on cost functions that quantify capabilities and performance of each element in a system and enable their efficient evaluation. A proposed cost function format is developed along with initial development of two example cost function variables, completion time and fatigue, obtained as each worker is completing assembly tasks. The cost function format and example variables were tested with two example tasks utilizing an ABB YuMi Robot in addition to a simulated human worker under various levels of fatigue. The total costs produced clearly identified the best worker to complete each task with these costs also clearly indicating when a human worker is fatigued to a greater or lesser degree than expected.

Citation

Smith, T., Benardos, P., & Branson, D. (2020). Assessing worker performance using dynamic cost functions in human robot collaborative tasks. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 234(1), 289-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406219838568

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 18, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Mar 26, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Mar 7, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 7, 2019
• Journal: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science
• Print ISSN: 0954-4062
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-2983
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 234
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 289-301
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406219838568
• Keywords: Dynamic task allocation; Robotics; Machine Learning; Scheduling; Automation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1616437
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0954406219838568