esearch and Development of a Remote-Controlled Construction Machinery System with Extended Embodiment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20093
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Ibaraki University (2022-2023); Nara Institute of Science and Technology (2021); Ritsumeikan University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Sato Yuki 茨城大学, 理工学研究科(工学野), 助教 (10635395)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 建設機械 / 遠隔操作 / 回転座席 / 映像酔い / 操作性 / 災害現場 / ヘッドマウントディスプレイ / スマートグラス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To prevent secondary disasters at disaster sites, research on the remote control of construction machinery is being conducted. However, traditional fixed-seat systems have problems with motion sickness and reduced operability. This study developed a remote control system with a rotating seat and evaluated its impact. The system consists of a rotating seat, a camera-equipped construction machine (radio-controlled), a head-mounted display, and a controller. During operation, the seat and the construction machine rotated synchronously. The experiment results showed that participants who experienced severe motion sickness without seat rotation had reduced symptoms with seat rotation. Additionally, operability, as assessed by the sense of agency, significantly increased only with seat rotation. These results suggest that seat rotation may be effective in reducing motion sickness and improving operability.

Free Research Field

身体性認知科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，建設機械の遠隔操作システムにおける映像酔いと操作性の問題を解決する新たな方法を提供した点で重要である．従来の固定座席システムに対し，回転座席を導入することで，視覚と前庭感覚の不一致を解消し，運動主体感を生じさせることができることを実証した．これにより，遠隔操作技術の改良に寄与し，将来的な研究や技術開発の基盤を提供する．
また，本研究は，災害現場での作業員の安全性向上と効率的な作業の実現に寄与する．回転座席を導入することで，映像酔いの軽減と操作性の向上が期待され，作業員の負担が軽減される．また，この技術は，災害現場以外の遠隔操作が必要な分野でも応用可能であり，広範な社会的利益をもたらす．