Assessing proxemics impact on Human-Robot collaboration safety in construction: A virtual reality study with four-legged robots

Recent advancements in four-legged robots have prompted their integration into the construction industry, yet the safety implications of their deployment remain inadequately explored. As such comprehensive investigations are required to ensure the safety of robot deployment and the well-being of construction professionals who work with and alongside these robots. This study addresses this gap by conducting a user-centered experiment employing virtual reality to assess human behavior and safety impacts in varying interaction spaces with four-legged robots within a simulated construction environment. By employing objective and subjective measures, including physiological and attentional responses, emotional reactions, situational awareness, risk perceptions, and attitudes towards robots, this study analyzes the impact of proxemics on construction individuals at two distinct interaction spaces: proximal (1.5 - 4 ft) and distal (12 - 25 ft) from the four-legged robots. The study found that while participants' physiological responses, emotional states, situational awareness, risk perceptions, and attitudes towards robots were not significantly influenced by four-legged robot interaction space, those in the distal group allocated significantly more attention to the robot, particularly in terms of fixation count, indicating a significant proxemics impact on attentional states. These findings shed light on the safety implications of human-robot collaboration on jobsites, contributing to the advancement of safe and efficient practices in construction settings.