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Using Fractal Dimension to Assess Robot Operator Skill in a Search Task

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An Erratum to this article was published on 21 April 2011

Abstract

This paper discusses a new real-time fractal path analysis (RTFPA) algorithm and its use in assessing the skill of robot operators. Twenty-five volunteers participated in an experiment to evaluate the use of the RTFPA algorithm as a metric for robot operator skill in a search task. The algorithm was used to estimate the fractal dimension of a path taken by a simulated, tele-operated Inuktun Extreme VGTV within a game-based training environment. The results show that within the sample population there exists a curvilinear relationship between fractal dimension and score. This relationship seems to indicate that when used along with score, fractal dimension can be used as a measure of an operator’s search strategy and ability to maintain situational awareness. An additional analysis confirms the results of prior work showing that there is no evidence of a relationship between fractal dimension and task completion time. Additionally, a detailed description and pseudo code for the RTFPA algorithm are presented and the accuracy of RTFPA is compared to existing fractal path analysis algorithms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HSR&D/RR&D Center of Excellence, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, 8900 Grand Oak Circle, Tampa, FL, 33637, USA

    Jeffrey D. Craighead

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  1. Jeffrey D. Craighead
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Correspondence to Jeffrey D. Craighead.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10846-011-9559-3

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Craighead, J.D. Using Fractal Dimension to Assess Robot Operator Skill in a Search Task. J Intell Robot Syst 64, 97–118 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10846-010-9530-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10846-010-9530-8

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