Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Exploring the Dynamics between Cobot's Production Rhythm, Locus of Control and Emotional State in a Collaborative Assembly Scenario

Marta Mondellini, Matteo Lavit Nicora, Pooja Prajod, Elisabeth André, Rocco Vertechy, Alessandro Antonietti, Matteo Malosio

TL;DR

The study investigates how a cobot's production rhythm influences experiential locus of control (ELoC) and emotional state during collaborative assembly. Using a within-subjects design with three pacing conditions and measures including ICI, NARS, ELoC, and the Self-Assessment Manikin, the authors find no overall effect of rhythm on ELoC or emotion, but observe rhythm-related differences in performance and condition preferences, along with nuanced correlations that depend on rhythm. Reliability concerns with the ICI scale and modest sample size temper some conclusions, suggesting that personal psychological characteristics modulate human-cobot interaction and should inform customization in Industry 5.0 settings. The findings highlight the importance of tailoring cobot pacing to individual traits to optimize well-being and productivity in industrial HRI contexts.

Abstract

In industrial scenarios, there is widespread use of collaborative robots (cobots), and growing interest is directed at evaluating and measuring the impact of some characteristics of the cobot on the human factor. In the present pilot study, the effect that the production rhythm (C1 - Slow, C2 - Fast, C3 - Adapted to the participant's pace) of a cobot has on the Experiential Locus of Control (ELoC) and the emotional state of 31 participants has been examined. The operators' performance, the degree of basic internal Locus of Control, and the attitude towards the robots were also considered. No difference was found regarding the emotional state and the ELoC in the three conditions, but considering the other psychological variables, a more complex situation emerges. Overall, results seem to indicate a need to consider the person's psychological characteristics to offer a differentiated and optimal interaction experience.

Exploring the Dynamics between Cobot's Production Rhythm, Locus of Control and Emotional State in a Collaborative Assembly Scenario

TL;DR

The study investigates how a cobot's production rhythm influences experiential locus of control (ELoC) and emotional state during collaborative assembly. Using a within-subjects design with three pacing conditions and measures including ICI, NARS, ELoC, and the Self-Assessment Manikin, the authors find no overall effect of rhythm on ELoC or emotion, but observe rhythm-related differences in performance and condition preferences, along with nuanced correlations that depend on rhythm. Reliability concerns with the ICI scale and modest sample size temper some conclusions, suggesting that personal psychological characteristics modulate human-cobot interaction and should inform customization in Industry 5.0 settings. The findings highlight the importance of tailoring cobot pacing to individual traits to optimize well-being and productivity in industrial HRI contexts.

Abstract

In industrial scenarios, there is widespread use of collaborative robots (cobots), and growing interest is directed at evaluating and measuring the impact of some characteristics of the cobot on the human factor. In the present pilot study, the effect that the production rhythm (C1 - Slow, C2 - Fast, C3 - Adapted to the participant's pace) of a cobot has on the Experiential Locus of Control (ELoC) and the emotional state of 31 participants has been examined. The operators' performance, the degree of basic internal Locus of Control, and the attitude towards the robots were also considered. No difference was found regarding the emotional state and the ELoC in the three conditions, but considering the other psychological variables, a more complex situation emerges. Overall, results seem to indicate a need to consider the person's psychological characteristics to offer a differentiated and optimal interaction experience.
Paper Structure (16 sections, 2 figures, 2 tables)

This paper contains 16 sections, 2 figures, 2 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Aim of The Study
  3. Materials and Methods
  4. The Experimental Scenario
  5. Study Design
  6. Participants
  7. Procedure
  8. Measures
  9. Statistical Analysis
  10. Results
  11. Descriptive Statistics
  12. Differences Between Experimental Conditions
  13. Correlations Between Variables in Each Condition
  14. The Preferred Condition
  15. Discussion
  16. ...and 1 more sections

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: A schematic top view of the work cell where a researcher [A] monitors the session and acts as a Wizard of Oz using a laptop [B]. The participants [D] use the table [C] to work on their part of the assembly, while the cobot [E] moves to the common area [F] for the joint action step after picking up one of the preassembled components available on the other table [G].
  • Figure 2: In the picture, [A] shows the components assembled by the user, [B] is the preassembled part assigned to the cobot, [C] shows the joint action step schematically while in [D] on volunteer is depicted in the moment of collaboration with the cobot.