Enhancing Emergency Response: The Critical Role of Interface Design in Mining Emergency Robots

Details

• Journal Article:
  Robotics
• Personal Author:
  Bakzadeh, Roya ; Joao, Kiazoa M. ; Androulakis, Vasileios ; Khaniani, Hassan ; Shao, Sihua ; Hassanalian, Mostafa ; Roghanchi, Pedram
• Description:
  While robotic technologies have shown great promise in enhancing productivity and safety, their integration into the mining sector, particularly for search and rescue (SAR) missions, remains limited. The success of these systems depends not only on their technical capabilities, but also on the effectiveness of human-robot interaction (HRI) in high-risk, time-sensitive environments. This review synthesizes key human factors, including cognitive load, situational awareness, trust, and attentional control, that critically influence the design and operation of robotic interfaces for mine rescue missions. Drawing on established cognitive theories such as Endsley's Situational Awareness Model, Wickens' Multiple Resource Theory, Mental Model and Cognitive Load Theory, we identified core challenges in current SAR interface design for mine rescue missions and mapped them to actionable design principles. We proposed a human-centered framework tailored to underground mine rescue operations, with specific recommendations for layered feedback, multimodal communication, and adaptive interfaces. By contextualizing cognitive science in the domain of mining emergencies, this work offers a structured guide for designing intuitive, resilient, and operator-supportive robotic systems. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Cognition
  • Mining
  • Occupational Health
  • Robotics
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Robotics
  • Mining industry
  • Emergency response
  • Mine rescue
  • Automation
  • Situational awareness
  • Cognitive function
  • Worker safety
  • Author Keywords: mining robotics
  • search and rescue
  More +
• ISSN:
  2218-6581
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Birmingham Region OSHA ; Colorado ; Dallas Region OSHA ; Denver Region OSHA ; Kentucky ; New Mexico
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  25 pdf pages
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071716
• Citation:
  Robotics 2025 Nov; 14(11):148
• Contact Point Address:
  Pedram Roghanchi, Department of Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
• Email:
  pedram.roghanchi@uky.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  2021/09/01
• End Date:
  2025/08/31
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/259942/cdc_259942_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.23 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ec1bf28c5a1ddce29538f60130bce53664918ca4d99c5d9abc8110f6f851a618378495818caee391aea7ff570f17303449041c8b78c7031ed3127d210058bd8c