How Far is It? Distance Estimation and Reproduction Through a Double 3 Telepresence Robot

Telepresence offers to explore an environment without being physically there, but spatial orientation including distance estimation is impaired by limited sensory input. In the present study, we investigated how well 39 participants performed two types of distance estimation tasks while operating a Double 3 telepresence robot via a 2D interface in a web-browser. One task required to visually reproduce a distance that was experienced in virtual self-motion by observing a target that moved away and stopping it at the presumed distance. The second task required to reproduce a distance by virtual self-motion that was visually encoded. The results confirm common underestimation of distances in VR and demonstrate benefits of time-based estimation, which was possible in addition to vision-based estimation in the first task.