Teaching Human-Centered Design of Collaborative Robot Cells in a Learning Factory: A Study on Workload, Trust and Usability

As the integration of collaborative robots (cobots) into manufacturing environments continues to grow, it becomes imperative to prioritize the seamless interaction between humans and robots. This paper presents the results of an exercise conducted in a learning factory, focusing on the human-centered design of collaborative robot cells. The aim is to expose learners to human-centered design by evaluating the impact of different robot design configurations on critical human factors: workload, trust, and usability. To assess the effects of robot cell design on workload, trust, and usability, objective performance metrics were combined with subjective user feedback. Learners engaged in an assembly task within a learning factory environment, interacting with a UR3 collaborative robot in various configurations. The NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was used to measure perceived workload, and trust and usability were evaluated through structured questionnaires found in literature. Learners discover that subtle changes in robot cell design, such as arm movement and speed, significantly influence workload, trust, and usability perceptions among human operators. Learners therefore gained valuable insights into the importance of aligning technology with human needs and preferences, thereby solidifying their grasp of human-centered design principles.