Exploring Capability-Based Control Distributions of Human-Robot Teams Through Capability Deltas: Formalization and Implications

TL;DR

This paper introduces Capability Deltas, a formal framework to quantify and analyze the capability gaps in human-robot teams, enabling better autonomous assistance through a multi-dimensional capability space.

Contribution

It formalizes capability gaps using Capability Deltas, extending to multi-dimensional space for improved modeling of human-robot team dynamics.

Findings

Capability Deltas effectively quantify human-robot capability gaps.

The framework enables formalization of compensation behaviors.

Application potential in designing adaptive autonomous assistance.

Abstract

The implicit assumption that human and autonomous agents have certain capabilities is omnipresent in modern teaming concepts. However, none formalize these capabilities in a flexible and quantifiable way. In this paper, we propose Capability Deltas, which establish a quantifiable source to craft autonomous assistance systems in which one agent takes the leader and the other the supporter role. We deduct the quantification of human capabilities based on an established assessment and documentation procedure from occupational inclusion of people with disabilities. This allows us to quantify the delta, or gap, between a team's current capability and a requirement established by a work process. The concept is then extended to the multi-dimensional capability space, which then allows to formalize compensation behavior and assess required actions by the autonomous agent.