The Impacts of Multiple Robots and Display Views: An Urban Search and Rescue Simulation

Abstract

The use of remote controlled uninhabited ground vehicles (UGVs) is expanding in military and emergency operations. In operations involving multiple UGVs controlled by a single operator, understanding the psychological implications for operational proficiency with the integration of multiple displayed viewpoints is critical. The current empirical study addresses this issue in an experimental simulation of an urban search and rescue (USAR) operation. Using miniature vehicles in a simulated environment, participants were tasked with searching through difficult terrain to photograph specific targets. In the experiment, the number of UGVs used and the use of an uninhabited air vehicle (UAV) view were manipulated as between participants variables. Results indicate: (1) that the use of two UGVs (in a team mode) is rather inefficient, (2) that using two UGVs did not meaningfully reduce faults, and (3) that the use of a UAV view, and to a lesser extent two UGVs, improved target localization.