Empirical study to investigate the range of force feedback necessary for best operator performance in a haptic controlled excavator interface

Haptic, or touch is omnipresent of everyday human activity and provide continual and essential source of information during the performance of virtually any physical activity. A new multimodal human–machine interface “haptic controlled excavator” that uses touch is currently being developed to incorporate haptics into the design of human–excavator interface. Haptics, has great potential to increase efficiency if properly integrated into the haptic controlled excavator interface. One of the difficulties in developing the new haptic controlled excavator interface has been how to determine the range of force feedback values that produce the best operator performance. Range of force feedback was classified as no feedback, low feedback, medium feedback or high feedback based on a pilot study. An empirical study was then conducted using twenty subjects to investigate the range of force feedback that yields best operator performance. The results show that medium force feedback range produced the best operator performance, although this difference was not statistically significant.Relevant to industryIn this research, an empirical study was conducted to investigate the range of force feedback that is necessary for best operator performance in the haptic controlled excavator. Results from this study will help to develop efficient haptic controlled excavator interface with proper level of force feedback, and in turn improve the human–excavator interaction.

► We compared the impact of providing force feedback versus no feedback on operator performance for a haptic controlled excavator.
► We investigated the range of force feedback and their impact on operator performance for a haptic controlled excavator.
► We identified the force feedback level that yields the best operator performance for a haptic controlled excavator.
► We provided design recommendations for a haptic controlled excavator.