Remotely operated robots
There are various instances of remotely controlled robots being used in different settings. For example, robots utilized for space exploration possess some self-navigation capabilities but still rely on instructions from human operators on Earth. In military operations, human operators can remotely control robots like Packbot to scan for potential bombs and clear the path for military vehicles. Similarly, drones can be operated from remote locations during military operations. Robots are also used in search-and-rescue operations to locate people in need of assistance. Telepresence robots have also been introduced to the market, allowing people to present or communicate from remote locations.
In remote operation scenarios, the operator must work alongside some degree of autonomy in the robot’s function. The robot can navigate independently, but the operator may have to provide directions for optimal use. Due to a lack of risk avoidance capabilities, the operator may have to intervene before the robot is seriously damaged. The user interacts with the remotely operated robot through a user interface, and there are several common HRI issues to address, such as building trust with the robot and ethical concerns. For example, if the autonomy system fails, who is accountable? Is it moral to design a system that could allow autonomy to fail?
Read more about Packbot:
https://robots.ieee.org/robots/packbot/
A video of a robot that was initially designed for defusing bombs performing surgery:
References
Bartneck, C. et al. (2020) Human-Robot Interaction: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108676649.