Inventors at USF have developed a novel framework that enables robots to communicate a set of short and long term future intentions in a quick, simple, and human-digestible manner. The framework provides users with real-time information regarding a robot’s planned actions and enables people and robots to make collaborative decisions and act synergistically. The invention includes an intention generator that derives a set of possible intentions for a robot based on a task and the robot’s kinetic and dynamic models associated with the task. In addition, an intention interaction component enables humans to influence the robot’s intentions before the robot executes a planned action. This invention can be used in any area where it will be beneficial for people and robots to work side-by-side including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, military and service industries.
Mobile Robot With Intention Displayed on Monitor (Left) and Intention Displayed on Floor (Right)