Explorative Study of a Brain-Computer Interface for Order Picking Tasks in Logistics

Humans are still protagonists in logistics. Amongst automated guided vehicles (AGV) which induce relief to workers by minimizing monotonous and physically demanding tasks, the technological progress steadily introduces new methods of interaction in socio-technical systems e.g. augmented reality (AR). In this paper, an AGV control using mental commands through a consumer-grade EEG headset is implemented and tested to evaluate the user experience (UX) of a brain-computer interface (BCI) in a logistic scenario. The 13 participants had to train two commands to control an AGV during order picking. Results show that training two commands in a short time and executing them is manageable. The BCI was tested against a smartphone app, where the BCI was rated less efficient and more demanding. Further, the influences of different factors on the performance like focus capacity were assessed, but no significant results could be measured. The BCI performed well in its hedonic qualities, due to its novel approach and motivational properties.