Analysis of successes and failures with a tele-operated mobile robot in various modes of operation

The effect on failure rates of the way tele-operators interact with mobile robots is investigated. Human tele-operators attempted to move a robot through progressively more complicated environments with reducing gaps, as quickly as possible. Tele-operators used a joystick and either watched robots, while operating them, or used a computer screen to view scenes remotely. Cameras were either mounted on the robot to view the space ahead of the robot or mounted remotely so that they viewed both the environment and robot. Tele-operators completed tests both with and without sensors. Both an umbilical cable and a radio link were used.