Human-robot interaction laboratory

The Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Laboratory is a world-class research facility established by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Human-Machine Systems (IROHMS).

Aligned to IROHMS research agenda, the laboratory’s research focuses on investigating research problems at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and human-machine systems.

Our main research priorities are:

• human-robot interaction and collaboration
• Human-like AI
• context awareness
• context reasoning
• intention recognition and prediction
• affective computing
• explainable robotics
• semantic reasoning
• robot curiosity

Technical facilities

The laboratory has cutting-edge equipment for teaching and research, including:

Care-O-Bot 4

With more than 20 degrees of freedom and an omnidirectional base, this service robot can actively support humans e.g. in their daily life and health care. Two 7-DOF arms with one finger hands are used for mechanical interaction with objects in the environment.

On its 3-DOF torso it has two 3D cameras for environmental monitoring and another 3D camera for floor monitoring. The robot’s head has a touch panel display to interact with people and contains a moving sensor ring with 3D camera for facial and gesture recognition, and microphone for speech recognition.

Vicon Motion Tracking System

A setup of 10 Vicon Vero cameras with advanced technology and intelligent controls, together with a Vicon RGB camera can track human and objects precisely, accurately, and rigorously. The technology enables a wide variety of research from human-robot collaboration to context awareness, and more.

Siemens Plant Simulation Software

A powerful tool for modelling, simulating, analysing, visualizing, and optimizing production systems and processes, which is developed by Siemens PLM Software.

Eye Tracker and EEG Headset

These cutting-edge equipment enable studying human physiological signals and behaviours, which are fundamental in different robotic areas such human-like AI and trusted autonomy.

HTC VIVE Virtual Reality Headset

With high resolution, this VR headset offers a comprehensive package to support users to get more out of the virtual reality experience.

Smart Eye

This eye tracking system uses digital cameras for real-time tracking of eye movement and gaze direction. It has several applications in different research areas such as human-centred robotics, and human intention recognition.

KUKA LBR Med 14 R820: a collaborative robot for medical applications

The sensitive LBR Med robot has been adapted to meet specific medical requirements and is perfectly suited for a wide range of assistance systems in medical technology on account of its human-robot collaboration capability. With its integrated torque sensors, the innovative lightweight robot LBR Med 14 R820 is extremely sensitive and stands out for its high flexibility.

Geomagic Touch haptic arm

The Touch haptic device enhances productivity and efficiency by enabling the most intuitive human/computer interaction possible, the ability to solve problems by touch. The Touch model is a cost-effective haptic device. The Touch system’s high fidelity force feedback senses motion in 6 degrees of freedom providing the best, most realistic 3D Touch sensation for any application. You can feel the point of the stylus in all axes, and track its orientation (pitch, roll and yaw). The Touch’s portable design, compact footprint, and an USB interface ensures quick installation and ease-of-use.

NAO Robot

NAO6 is a small bipedal robot (58cm in height) with pleasantly rounded features. These robots together with the existing robots and VICON object tracking system enables the team to explore and carryout research on multi-robot coordination for the applications such as collaborative object transfer.

EinScan HX handheld scanner 3D Scanner

This handheld scanner with the 3D digital reconstruction software brings an all-in-one solution for reverse engineering. By simply scanning the object with the new EinScan HX handheld scanner, the data can be easily converted into CAD in Geomagic Essentials. With the design tool Solid Edge, you can perfect your designs and prep them for the print. This equipment will allow generation of synthetic data allowing objects to be put into the Virtual environment, which will enhance our work with our robots.

Practical applications

Lab users work closely together to design and develop novel methods and concepts to make an impact on the field of human-robot interaction and society. The application of our laboratory’s technologies can be used in several fields including industry, healthcare, entertainment, sport, and training.

Current research at the Human-Robot Interaction Lab includes the emerging field of explainable robotics, virtual and augmented reality, and simulation in the context of smart manufacturing, and autonomous vehicles.

The laboratory is located in the School of Engineering.