Outcomes - FW-HRC

Future Workforce in Human-Robot Collaboration
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Expert Meeting
Expert Meeting Outcomes

The interdisciplinary expert meeting successfully identified key aspects and strategic knowledge gaps essential for developing a future-ready extraterrestrial construction workforce. Below are the main outcomes grouped by the three core themes discussed:

Theme 1: Extraterrestrial Construction
  1. Differences in Site Conditions: The need to clearly understand the variations between terrestrial and extraterrestrial site conditions was emphasized. For instance, atmospheric disturbances, quakes, radiation, gravity differences, and temperature extremes must be accounted for when planning extraterrestrial construction projects.
  2. Construction Protocols: Identifying how conventional construction tasks change under planetary conditions is crucial. For example, excavation forces differ due to lower gravity, and underground installations are less common.
  3. In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Leveraging available materials on different planets is vital due to the high cost of transporting materials from Earth. Research on the resilience and longevity of extraterrestrial construction materials is necessary.
  4. Complexity and Collaboration: Extraterrestrial construction involves multiple disciplines and international collaboration. Developing a consistent technical taxonomy to avoid miscommunication is essential.

Theme 2: Future Workers (Extraterrestrial Construction Workforce)
  1. Hierarchy of Skills: Identifying and prioritizing the skills required for extraterrestrial construction workers is essential. These include situational awareness, technical skills for teleoperation and HRC (human-robot collaboration), and social skills for conflict resolution and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
  2. Trust in Technology: Building trust in technological systems, especially in high-risk environments, is crucial. Training should focus on handling unexpected scenarios effectively.
  3. Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC): Understanding the dynamics of hybrid collaboration, where humans and robots work together, is fundamental. This includes recognizing the limitations and capabilities of robots and how to leverage them in construction tasks.

Theme 3: Emerging Technologies for Workforce Training
  1. Immersive Training Environments: Utilizing AI-XR technologies to create realistic, interactive training simulations that mimic extraterrestrial construction conditions is essential. These simulations should provide both physical and emotional responses to enhance learning outcomes.
  2. Adaptive Learning: Employing AI to create adaptive learning environments that cater to individual learner needs is critical. This personalized approach ensures that diverse workforce backgrounds are accommodated.
  3. Real-World Experience: While simulations are vital, incorporating hands-on, real-world experiences remains crucial. The training should bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in extraterrestrial environments.

By addressing these themes, the expert meeting laid the groundwork for developing a robust framework to train the next generation of construction workers equipped to handle the challenges of extraterrestrial construction. This collective effort highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced technologies in preparing a future-ready workforce.

For detailed information, please refer to the following paper:
Jafari, A., Zhu, Y., Karunatillake, S., Qian, J., Jeong, S., Kazemian, A., and Webb, A. (2024), “Envisioning Extraterrestrial Construction and the Future Construction Workforce: A Collective Perspective,” 41st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2024), June 3-5, 2024, Lille, France. https://www.iaarc.org/publications/fulltext/071_ISARC_2024_Paper_248.pdf

Presentation at ISARC 2024 by Dr. Ali Kazemian:
Copyright and all rights therein are retained by Amirhosein Jafari and other copyright holders.
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