Developments in robotic teleoperation

Purpose The aim of this article is to provide details of recent technological developments in robotic teleoperation. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, the two main sections of this article provide examples of recent research involving the application of virtual reality and haptic technologies, respectively, to robotic teleoperation. Brief conclusions are drawn. Findings Teleoperation systems are being developed which incorporate virtual reality and haptic feedback technologies. Those using virtual reality seek to enhance the operator’s feeling of immersion in the scene and improve their situation awareness and trials involving diverse tasks illustrate that the technology can achieve these aims and overcome many limitations of traditional systems. Haptic feedback further enhances the degree of operator involvement and control and is now being adopted in commercial minimally invasive surgical systems. Systems which combine virtual reality with haptic feedback are being developed and have the potential to allow operators to conduct increasingly complex tasks. Originality/value Through reference to recent research, this illustrates how virtual reality and haptic technologies are enhancing the capabilities of robotic teleoperation.