Summary: This workpackage will identify the end user needs for collaborative work with robots and make an initial identification of the usability issues and techniques to be applied to resolve them as well as identifying candidate technologies for enabling collaborative working with robots.

CNRS/AIST will investigate robotic technology that has potential to be used in future collaborative working environments that have been targeted in previous and actual and envisaged new working environments (Task 1.1). UC3M will participate in the analysis and selection of the available robotic interfacing technology to be used in the collaborative working environment formed by humans and robots. The integration of the humanoid robots in the real industrial environments, like construction site, will be also the objective of the work in this workpackage (Tasks 1.1 and 1.2). PLUS will establish an integrated methods plan for all studies concerning usability, user experience, acceptance and societal impacts (Task 1.2). EPFL will participate in the initial selection and screening of the interfacing technology and in specifying the scenarios for the subsequent prototypes (Task 1.1 and 1.3). In particular, we will review the latest developments in PDA technology, and their various interfaces (WiFi/Bluetooth, camera, microphone/speaker) and programming  environments (SDK, win/linux, USB/serial/IR), as well as various other carry-on sensors (motion tracking sensors, WiFi cameras) to assist the human in remotely controlling and  interacting with the IST-robot. Dragados will participate in the analysis and selection of the demonstration scenarios in the construction industry, specifically in the building erection. The specific tasks will be selected in order to demonstrate the potential breakthrough applicability of the collaborative working environment (Task 1.3). SAS will participate, mainly in Task 1.2 in the establishment of the human factors and end user techniques to be used for ROBOT@CWE and for the usability and acceptability evaluations. In addition SAS will identify space (remote and harsh environment) oriented application scenarios.