Progress in Human-Robot Collaboration for Object Handover

This paper reviews the experimental work being accomplished in the broad field of human-robot collaboration (HRC) for object handover. Three fields of research are reviewed: sensor integration and interfacing, robot feedback communications with noise reduction, and how safety can be incorporated into these systems. In various stuides, methods of robot sensing are achieved through sensors, such as physical, visual/audible, and wearable. A robot can be initiated to complete a desired physical task such as object handover according to the sensors information. Once a robot is initiated for a handover, the robot should interpret the handover variables through compatible communication devices. These devices must be equipped with maximum data noise suppression capabilities. Noise will change the signal pattern and the encoded information which reduces the credibility of the data. This leads to environments that are potentially unsafe for both the human and the robot. With appropriate sensors, adequate communication, and safety concerns combined, an efficient object-handover may be implemented to increase workstation performance.