A Robotics Operator Manager Role For Military Application

Due to the increasing use of robots in US military operations, a new role may help to manage and coordinate multiple robotic assets, especially when considering the high mental workload requirements for robot control. The role of a robotics operator manager (ROM) was formed to study a path forward in solving this problem. An experiment with human test participants acting as ROMs showed that the ROM role as constructed is a workable solution to the robot management problems and also showed that time limits and bandwidth limitation affected engineered explosive detection performance, assessments of trust, and ratings of mental workload. Some of these results and others showing preferences for image stimuli and ground robots were simulated in an Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational model of the ROM experiment. The experimental and model results reveal that the ROM is not just a workable solution to the robot coordination problem, but that it may also be a preferred solution. I conclude with notes on how to field the role with personnel of specific skill sets.