A survey of wearable devices to capture human factors for human-robot collaboration

Technology has rapidly evolved over the course of the last decades, and drastically transformed our way of life. Robots are no longer just mechanical aides, but have become collaborators on many tasks. Wearable gadgets have become virtually ubiquitous due to their ability to collect data, monitor health parameters, and assist users in various day-to-day tasks. In recent years, there has been a surge in interest around the use of wearable technologies to collect human psychological parameters for human–robot collaboration. With the field of robotics advancing, there is a growing need for robots to interact with humans seamlessly. To achieve this seamless human–robot connection, robots must be able to interpret human emotions and react appropriately. While understanding human emotions and behavior is a complex task in itself, wearable sensor systems contribute valuable insights. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of wearable gadgets and technologies proposed for measuring five key human factors — trust, cognitive workload, stress, safety perception, and fatigue — within the scope of human–robot collaboration, based on the systematic review of papers published between 2015 and the end of 2024 in six major databases. Our analysis indicates that trust and cognitive workload have received greater attention from researchers in recent years, as compared to other human factors. The Empatica E4 wristband, Shimmer3 GSR+ and EPOC X EEG headset are among the most widely used wearable devices, capable of capturing essential physiological parameters widely used for human–robot collaboration, including electrodermal activity, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and electroencephalogram. Besides reviewing the potentials and capabilities of these gadgets, we highlight their shortcomings and offer directions for future research in this domain.