Human-robot collaboration on an assembly work with extended cognition approach

Abstract

In this study, the cognitive load that occurs in assembly works requiring human-robot collaboration is investigated. It is aimed to detect the effects of the workplaces designed with the approach of extended cognition on cognitive load and gender differences in cognitive load. Two workplace designs were used to investigate the task load that occurs in human-robot collaboration works and the effect of extended cognition on cognitive load. In both designs there was a sedentary workplace and same assembly work which requires human-robot collaboration. Differently, for the experimental group, the manual drawing was integrated to work table to detect the effect of extended cognition. For both groups task load is measured by using NASA-TLX (Task Load Index) method. Experimental results showed that the design with the extended cognition concept helps to reduce mental task load for male participants which is an important issue for yield, work safety, and quality in human-robot collaboration works. Experimental results also showed that there are no significant differences in cognitive load between genders. Unlike other studies, in this paper, human-robot cooperative works are examined according to gender difference with a point of extended cognition. The importance of the workplace design for human-robot interaction is presented.