The Influence of Operator Trust on Human-Robot Interaction Within Teams

Utilizing advanced machinery in team environments often necessitates reliance on a leader, or “operator,” who is in charge of interfacing with technology directly on the team’s behalf. This is particularly evident in modern military missions, where teams depend on operators of robotic machinery to safely navigate dangerous tasks or hazardous terrain. The present work is part of a larger study on integrating a semi-autonomous quadruped robot into military training exercises. This analysis focused on how trust in an operator controlling Spot influenced different aspects of human-robot interaction (HRI) among the team. Operator trust was found to be positively correlated with positive perceptions of the robot, trust in and reliance on the robot, and willingness to use the robot for future exercises. Improving operator trust, thereby shifting the focus to human-human interaction, may prove an effective avenue for bolstering confidence in robotic systems.