Neurocognitive assessment under various human-robot teaming environments.

Journal: Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference
PMID:

Abstract

Human-robot teaming has become increasingly important with the advent of intelligent machines. Prior efforts suggest that performance, mental workload, and trust are critical elements of human-robot dynamics that can be altered by the robot's behavior. Most prior human-robot teaming studies used behavioral analyses, but a limited number used neural markers, without the use of physical robots and complex tasks. Here we combine behavioral and EEG cortical dynamics to examine cognitive-motor processes when individuals complete a complex task under various team environments with a robot. The results revealed that altering the robot quality affected both behavioral and EEG dynamics. Task completion with an experienced robot led to greater team performance and human trust along with lower mental workload compared to an inexperienced teammate or when individuals performed alone. EEG changes suggest that different attentional processes were engaged when humans worked with the robot and performed alone, and that visual processing was more prominent when teaming with an inexperienced teammate. This work can inform human cognitive-motor processes and the design of robotic controllers in human-robot teams.

Authors

  • Anna L Packy
  • Jayesh Jayahankar
  • Arya Teymourlouei
  • Joshua Stone
  • Hyuk Oh
  • Garrett E Katz
    Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States. Electronic address: gkatz12@umd.edu.
  • James A Reggia
    Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
  • Rodolphe J Gentili
    Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States; Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States; Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States. Electronic address: rodolphe@umd.edu.