A Model of Human Reaction Time to Dangerous Robot Arm Movements [1987]

Details

• Personal Author:
  Etherton J ; Helander MG ; Karwan MH
• Description:
  A mathematical model was developed relating robot speed and human reaction time to risk of injury by the robot. The model was conceptually similar to a Model Human Processor developed by other investigators. The time for human information processing was divided into three components: perceptual time, decision making time, and motor response time. Perceptual time, estimated by a multiple regression technique, varied inversely with stimulus intensity and was typically in the range of 50 to 200 milliseconds. Decision making time was modeled, using the theory of signal detection, as a choice between the alternatives of hitting or not hitting the stop button. The probabilities of two correct and two incorrect outcomes were considered: hitting the stop button in response to a real threat, no response to a safe movement, failure to detect an unsafe movement, and incorrect perception that a movement is unsafe. Motor processor time was estimated using Fitts' law, as a logarithmic function of the distance to the stop button and the reciprocal of the stop button size. In a pilot experiment with nine male subjects, a linear relationship was found between robot arm speed and the distance the robot moved before it was stopped by an emergency button. The authors conclude that the safety interpretation of these results is difficult, and that more research is needed for a better understanding of the theoretical framework outlined. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mental Health Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Humans Industrial-equipment Industrial-safety Machine-operation Mathematical-models Motion-perception Psychological-factors Safety-engineering Workplace-studies
• ISBN:
  9789998969155
• ISSN:
  1071-1813
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  California ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  191-195
• Volume:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00175988
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 31st Annual Meeting, Rising to New Heights with Technology, October 19-23, 1987, New York City. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society, 1987 Sep; 1:191-195
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1987
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:daaaca5409b8b13286d130facf0b2b1b30d67e7ea5860c8d80386753cd4e524e3cc34ca66b1883e60b67244a1c12399f6222c95aa275dc6dce2c5375dd1057e4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185415/cdc_185415_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 427.37 KB ]