Analyzing Human Perceptions of a MEDEVAC Robot in a Simulated Evacuation Scenario

TL;DR

This study examines how different operational modes of a MEDEVAC robot influence human perceptions of safety and emotional response in a simulated evacuation, emphasizing the importance of human-robot interaction insights.

Contribution

It introduces a mixed factorial design to evaluate human perceptions of MEDEVAC robots across various operating modes in a simulated scenario.

Findings

Autonomous-fast mode negatively affected perceived safety and emotional states.

Operating mode significantly influenced human perceptions.

No significant differences between casualty and bystander responses.

Abstract

The use of autonomous systems in medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) scenarios is promising, but existing implementations overlook key insights from human-robot interaction (HRI) research. Studies on human-machine teams demonstrate that human perceptions of a machine teammate are critical in governing the machine's performance. Here, we present a mixed factorial design to assess human perceptions of a MEDEVAC robot in a simulated evacuation scenario. Participants were assigned to the role of casualty (CAS) or bystander (BYS) and subjected to three within-subjects conditions based on the MEDEVAC robot's operating mode: autonomous-slow (AS), autonomous-fast (AF), and teleoperation (TO). During each trial, a MEDEVAC robot navigated an 11-meter path, acquiring a casualty and transporting them to an ambulance exchange point while avoiding an idle bystander. Following each trial, subjects completed a questionnaire measuring their emotional states, perceived safety, and social compatibility with the robot. Results indicate a consistent main effect of operating mode on reported emotional states and perceived safety. Pairwise analyses suggest that the employment of the AF operating mode negatively impacted perceptions along these dimensions. There were no persistent differences between casualty and bystander responses.