Chapter 5 - Understanding worker trust in industrial robots for improving workplace safety

Abstract

Industrial robots are growing rapidly, and emerging types of robots are now capable of performing collaborative tasks and operating in a shared work area with human workers. Given the increasing dynamic interactions between human workers and robots, it is of particular interest to understand worker trust in robots and its implications in workplace safety. Our chapter focuses on psychological aspects of trust in human-robot interaction and discusses human-related determinants, including demographics and individual characteristics, as well as cognitive abilities and skills. We address the human-related factors on an individual's initial level of trust in robots and its changes over time. The chapter discusses the implications of the determinants of trust in the design of robots and robotic work environments and the development of training for workers. Research needs for a wide range of individual characteristics and differences involving worker trust in workplace robots are also discussed.