A Review of Human–Machine Cooperation in the Robotics Domain

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has greatly expanded human capabilities through perception, understanding, action, and learning. The future of AI depends on cooperation between humans and AI. In addition to a fully automated or manually controlled machine, a machine can work in tandem with a human with different levels of assistance and automation. Machines and humans cooperate in different ways. Three strategies for cooperation are described in this article, as well as the nesting relationships among different control methods and cooperation strategies. Based on human thinking and behavior, a hierarchical human–machine cooperation (HMC) framework is improved and extended to design safe, efficient, and attractive systems. We review the common methods of perception, decision-making, and execution in the HMC framework. Future applications and trends of HMC are also discussed.