Exploring the Role of Individual Characteristics in Shaping User Experience during Human–Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing Contexts

Abstract As Industry 5.0 emphasizes human-centric manufacturing, understanding how individual characteristics influence user experience in human–robot collaboration (HRC) is increasingly important. This study investigates how individual characteristics (i.e., personality traits and attitudes toward robots) affect user experience during collaborative tasks with a cobot in a manufacturing setting. Individual characteristics were collected through the NEO-FFI-3 (for personality traits) and NARS (for attitude toward robots) questionnaires. Participants completed three assembly tasks of varying product complexity, both with and without the assistance of a cobot. Affective states (measured via SAM) and perceived workload (NASA-TLX) were assessed alongside psychophysiological indicators (electrodermal activity and heart rate variability). Findings highlight the significant influence of individual characteristics in moderating user experience, offering valuable insights for designing adaptive, human-centered cobot systems. Most notably, operators with high levels of extraversion or agreeableness showed greater appreciation when working with a cobot. More caution is needed in implementing HRC with operators who have a high level of neuroticism, openness, and conscientiousness, which may require specific customization in order to fully exploit the benefits of collaborative robotics.