Experiments with web-based telerobots

Abstract

This paper reviews some specific developments on which our research into web-based telerobotics has been focussed.

We have operated a web-based telerobot continuously since 1994 (except for a short period for installing a new robot). Remote users operate the robot to stack blocks on a flat table: we estimate that about 250,000 users have controlled the robot since then. Although this is a relatively simple and well structured task, we have had to fill many gaps in our understanding of robotics to make this work reliably.

With access to such a large number of casual users, we can draw some interesting conclusions about user behaviour and the reliability of our equipment and software.

Key aspects which have required considerable research effort have been the means by which the robot software interacts with the user’s web browser and improving the usability of the interface. A simplified approach to kinematic calibration using a simple laser arrangement has also helped. Perhaps the most interesting issue is why the robot still attracts so many web users where the concept of flow helps to explain some of the user fascination.