towards More Effective Remote teleOPeration interfaces
MEROP is a team of researchers led by Rodrigo Ventura and José Luís Silva, created with the goal of improving teleoperation of mobile robots through enhanced multimodal interfaces.
Our strategies involve exploring multimodal feedback (visual and haptic), augmented reality, and operators’ physiological signals.
Research Topics
Situation awareness
Multi-second latency
Cognitive workload
Visual and haptic feedback
Augmented reality
Operators’ physiological signals.
Collaboration Partners
Bilateral control of the rover locomotion
Steering functionalities using 7DoF device
Proprioceptive cues for attitude awareness
Vibration cues for traction awareness
Fast deployment teleoperator unit
Field tests during AMADEE-20 Mars Analog Mission
In-house developed haptic devices:
Attitude device (proprioceptive cues)
Traction glove (vibration cues)
Information provided:
Absolute attitude orientation (Roll and Pitch)
Rate of attitude’s change (angular acceleration and velocity)
Terrain texture
Case study on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operation
Tested with Portuguese national corporations and during AMADEE-20
Case study on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations;
Dynamically modify an overly complex GUI without access to the source code
Classify 3 mental states: rest, workload, and stress
Case study on (simulated) lunar rover teleoperation with multi-second latency (3s)
Augmented image to aid operator
Systematic evaluation of the interfaces:
Predictive Interface
Avatar-Aided Interface
Hybrid Interface
We participate in different events and outreach activities
Do you want to join our team?
Do you want to know more about our research?
Do you have an idea that you would like to test with our teleoperation systems?
Contact us today!