A Tele-Operation Tool for Humanoid Robots : On the Pilot Interface Design and Functionality

Recent man-made or physical disasters, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear crisis, have highlighted the enormous potential of robots capable to perform hazardous activities during disaster response operations1, resulting in a growing interest in Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) robotic research worldwide. In this context, initiatives such as the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) introduced the scenario of using robots to manage disaster situations. Humanoid robots in particular can take advantage of the superior suitability of their body to deal with environments and tools designed for humans: traversing stairs and uneven terrains, and manipulating tools requiring both strength and dexterity.