An AR-based Worker Support System for Human-Robot Collaboration

In human-robot collaborative manufacturing, industrial robots would work alongside the human workers who jointly perform the assigned tasks. Recent researches revealed that recognised human motions could be used as input for industrial robots control. However, the information feedback channel from industrial robots to human workers is still limited. In response to the requirement, this research explores the potential of adopting augmented reality (AR) technologies in a worker support system for human-robot collaborative manufacturing. The robot commands and worker instructions can be virtually augmented for human workers intuitively and instantly. The designed AR-based worker support system is demonstrated by a case study.