A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture

This paper introduces a generalizable telerobotic solution for the coupling between manual and machine workflow tracks to facilitate the incorporation of personnel-required procedures in lab automation processes. The proposed shape-variable virtual fixture can be generalized for providing synchroniz...

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Main Authors: Yunze Shi, Tengyue Wang, Chen Lei, Liangjing Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10955455/
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author Yunze Shi
Tengyue Wang
Chen Lei
Liangjing Yang
author_facet Yunze Shi
Tengyue Wang
Chen Lei
Liangjing Yang
author_sort Yunze Shi
collection DOAJ
description This paper introduces a generalizable telerobotic solution for the coupling between manual and machine workflow tracks to facilitate the incorporation of personnel-required procedures in lab automation processes. The proposed shape-variable virtual fixture can be generalized for providing synchronized dexterous guidance during human interaction with a robotized automation process without disrupting the automated workflow. Accuracy performance evaluation showed that the use of our proposed shape-variable virtual fixture reduced positioning and orientation errors by 50%. Stability and transparency are validated by evaluation of the force profiles during the teleoperation process while interacting with the environment. User experience test based on the NASA-TLX evaluation also indicates reduced workload and task complexity experienced by the subjects of informed consent, suggesting better usability with our proposed method. This study demonstrates the feasibility and usability of the proposed telerobotic approach using shape-variable virtual fixtures for generalized man-robot collaborated workflows. It is envisioned that the work would pave a path for the realization of safer and more intuitive human-robot collaboration while maintaining the efficiency of the ever-increasing task complexity in modern smart laboratories.
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spelling doaj-art-47c51201977d4f359f017a3308eeb4652025-08-20T03:11:21ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113752947530410.1109/ACCESS.2025.355888110955455A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual FixtureYunze Shi0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3946-7184Tengyue Wang1https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9395-0417Chen Lei2https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8233-0500Liangjing Yang3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3294-0879School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaZJUI, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaThis paper introduces a generalizable telerobotic solution for the coupling between manual and machine workflow tracks to facilitate the incorporation of personnel-required procedures in lab automation processes. The proposed shape-variable virtual fixture can be generalized for providing synchronized dexterous guidance during human interaction with a robotized automation process without disrupting the automated workflow. Accuracy performance evaluation showed that the use of our proposed shape-variable virtual fixture reduced positioning and orientation errors by 50%. Stability and transparency are validated by evaluation of the force profiles during the teleoperation process while interacting with the environment. User experience test based on the NASA-TLX evaluation also indicates reduced workload and task complexity experienced by the subjects of informed consent, suggesting better usability with our proposed method. This study demonstrates the feasibility and usability of the proposed telerobotic approach using shape-variable virtual fixtures for generalized man-robot collaborated workflows. It is envisioned that the work would pave a path for the realization of safer and more intuitive human-robot collaboration while maintaining the efficiency of the ever-increasing task complexity in modern smart laboratories.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10955455/Laboratory automationteleroboticshuman-robot collaborationvariable virtual fixture
spellingShingle Yunze Shi
Tengyue Wang
Chen Lei
Liangjing Yang
A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture
IEEE Access
Laboratory automation
telerobotics
human-robot collaboration
variable virtual fixture
title A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture
title_full A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture
title_fullStr A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture
title_full_unstemmed A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture
title_short A Generalizable Telerobotic Solution for Undisrupted Man-Robot Workflow Coupling via Shape-Variable Virtual Fixture
title_sort generalizable telerobotic solution for undisrupted man robot workflow coupling via shape variable virtual fixture
topic Laboratory automation
telerobotics
human-robot collaboration
variable virtual fixture
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10955455/
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