Working with collaborative robots and its influence on levels of working stress

The use and the rapid growth of the cobot in industry are changing working conditions. New jobs can imply new advantages and inconveniences, which call for new occupational risk assessments. The aim here is to assess occupational risks in terms of mental stress, so as to determine whether a worker experiences greater stress when working in collaboration with a cobot rather than with another person while performing the same production-line process. The study involved a total of 32 volunteers of various ages, with no previous experience of cobots. An eye-tracker system that records a range of biometric data was used to quantify stress. Pupil diameter was mainly used in this investigation, as well as the number of gaze fixations by zones. The data registered were analyzed using the T-test method, with which data on two groups can be compared to test for significant differences. In addition, other secondary parameters were also analyzed, such as the time required to complete each test, and the number of errors that were committed. Among the most important conclusions, it was noted that working with cobots in no way increased stress levels, confirming one of the objectives for which these robots were designed.