User acceptance of see-through augmented reality in intralogistics

Purpose The paper aims to explore the use of an augmented reality assistance system to enhance safety in forklift operations by addressing visibility challenges caused by structural and load-induced obstructions. A user study validates the potential of see-through as a driver assistance system on forklifts, and highlights challenges in accuracy, latency and image quality. Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for a comprehensive user study with 18 participants. The tests were conducted while the forklift was not driving. Participants were allowed to elevate and incline the mast to evaluate the system’s performance. All participants answered 11 questions focusing on performance, usability and optimization. The questionnaire used an 11-point Likert scale (0: strongly disagree, 10: strongly agree) to quantify the personal opinions of the users. Depending on the hypotheses, one-sample or two-sample t-tests were carried out to evaluate the questionnaires. Findings The paper provides insight into the evaluation of an augmented reality-based driver assistance system for forklifts. The study identified latency and image quality as critical areas for improvement, essential for enhancing user acceptance and operational reliability. Research limitations/implications Because of the restriction of the participants to a university environment and the fact that the user study was carried out while the vehicle was not driving, the research results may lack industrial transferability. For this reason, researchers should carry out further investigations in companies, for which considerable safety precautions are necessary. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study how the visibility problem on forklifts can be solved and thus increase safety in intralogistics.