Towards a Framework for Human Factors in Underwater Robotics

This paper presents a study identifying the human-, robot-, task-, and environmental-related factors that impact the feasibility and usability of semi Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (sAUVs) from a human factors perspective. A multi-method approach was utilized. First, a subject matter expert (SME) interview was used to analyze video data of operators interacting with sAUVs. The results suggest considerations for the capabilities and limitations of the human and robot, in relation to the dynamic demands of the task and environment. A preliminary human factors conceptual model to depict and categorize these components was proposed. Next, a questionnaire was administered to sAUV roboticists (N=15) that assessed their perceptions related to the level of challenge associated to each of the factors identified in the model. The data suggest that all of the factors identified in our conceptual model are, in fact, challenging. In particular, our data suggest that situation awareness, communication, task complexity, visibility, and the robot’s user interface were some of the most challenging variables in sUAV operation.