Using prediction to enhance remote robot supervision across time delay

Abstract

The predictive interactive graphical interface (PIGI) is a suite of tools developed at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) for supervising robots across expected Earth-moon time delays (5-10 second round trip). These tools improve interaction between a human supervisor and a remote robot by mitigating the effects of the time delay. Using a combination of robot behavior prediction and task queuing, PIGI enables the supervisor to reduce robot idle time, which leads to more efficient completion of the tasks. PIGI was used in 2007 and 2008 to remotely command five different NASA robots in Arizona, California, Texas, and Washington, all from a single location at JSC in Houston.