Mental Workload and Human-Robot Interaction in Collaborative Tasks: A Scoping Review

In human-robot collaboration (HRC), operators work side by with collaborative robots (cobots), a new type of machines able to function safely on tasks shared humans. Despite the increasing presence cobots in factories, quality experience associated workers HRC is an underexplored topic. This review focused mental workload (MWL) reported interacting cobots, its major sources, and potential solutions optimize it during HRC. Out 165 papers identified, 23 were selected as specifically devoted exploration workers’ MWL activity. Cobot motion, predictability, task organization communication patterns emerged factors contributing operators’ Endowing capacity meet both demands human needs through modulation motion rhythm, flexible physical interaction, more efficient may contribute mitigating MWL.