From One to Many: How Active Robot Swarm Sizes Influence Human Cognitive Processes

In robotics, understanding human interaction with autonomous systems is crucial for enhancing collaborative technologies. We focus on human-swarm interaction (HSI), exploring how active robot groups of varying sizes affect operators’ cognitive and perceptual reactions over distinct durations. We analyze the impact of different numbers of active robots within a 15-robot swarm on operators’ time perception, emotional state, flow experience, and task difficulty perception. Our findings indicate that managing multiple active robots when compared to one active robot significantly alters time perception and flow experience, leading to a faster passage of time and increased flow. More active robots and extended durations cause increased emotional arousal and perceived task difficulty, highlighting the interaction between the number of active robots and human cognitive processes. These insights inform the creation of intuitive human-swarm interfaces and aid in developing swarm robotic systems aligned with human cognitive structures, enhancing human-robot collaboration.