Evaluating the perception of human-robot collaboration among construction project managers

In construction applications, a robot is commonly seen a semi-automated tool or a piece of equipment that assists with specialized work tasks. However, as robots become more technically capable and widely available, they may be seen more as a teammate or co-worker that collaborates with human crews. Using a survey questionnaire, 63 project managers from two national construction management firms in the US were shown videos of three different applications of robotic systems, each exhibiting different characteristics, and were asked to share their perceptions of the robot. Through a between and across group comparison of their responses, we found that a robot was more likely to be seen as a teammate when its movement was less unpredictable, it was seen as more productive than human workers, it was considered durable, it remained constantly active, it took its surroundings into account before moving, it worked well alongside human workers, it was not unreliable, and it made the task more predictable. These findings identify clear challenges for human-robot teaming and the design of robotic systems for construction applications.