Differences in Human Response When Interacting in Real and Virtual (VR) Human–Robot Scenarios

The utilization of robots has become an integral aspect of industrial operations. In this particular context, the study of the interaction of humans and robots aims to integrate their relevant capabilities with the intention of attaining maximum efficiency. Moreover, in the private sector, interaction with robots is already common in many places. Acceptance, trust, and perceived emotions vary widely depending on specific contexts. This highlights the necessity for adequate training to mitigate fears and enhance trust and acceptance. Currently, no such training is available. Virtual realities have frequently proven to be helpful platforms for the implementation of training. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of virtual realities for training in this specific application area. For this purpose, simple object handovers were performed in three different scenarios (reality, virtual reality, and hybrid reality). Subjective evaluations of the participants were extended by psychophysiological (ECG and EDA) and performance measures. In most cases, the results show no significant differences between the scenarios, indicating that personal perception during interaction is transferable to a virtual reality. This demonstrates the general suitability of virtual realities in this context.