Taylor Higgins, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering, poses with a unicycle and the Open Source Leg (developed by the University of Michigan and sold by Humotech) in the Center for Intelligent Systems Control and Robotics (CISCOR) lab in the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics & Energy (AME) building of FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida. Higgins is conducting a study that invoilves collecting longitudinal movement data of human subjects learning to ride a unicycle.
Taylor Higgins, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has co-authored a groundbreaking article in Science Robotics that challenges conventional thinking about human-robot interaction.
The publication, part of an all-female research team, emphasizes prioritizing human factors in robotics design.
The article, “Crucial hurdles to achieving human-robot harmony,” argues that successful robotics development must focus more on understanding human behavior rather than solely on robot functionality. The research highlights fundamental differences in how humans and robots perceive their environment, make decisions and execute tasks.
“The key point from this paper is that for robots to improve their performance, they need to adapt smartly, sensing that humans are sometimes unpredictable and will change their actions accordingly,” Higgins said. “The idea is that both humans and robots can adjust their behaviors together over time.”
Collaborative Origins
The project began in 2022 at the University of Texas at Austin, when Higgins, then a postdoctoral researcher, met Assistant Professor Keya Ghonasgi, who was completing her doctorate. Their collaboration expanded to include Meghan Huber, assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts, and Marcia O’Malley, professor at Rice University.
“I’m particularly proud of the results from this all-female author team,” Higgins said. “We wrote the paper, yes, but ended up supporting one another in the day-to-day wins and losses of the academic pipeline, an extremely enjoyable experience.”
“I’m particularly proud of the results from this all-female author team,” Higgins said. “We wrote the paper, yes, but ended up supporting one another in the day-to-day wins and losses of the academic pipeline, an extremely enjoyable experience.”
Innovative Research Applications
Higgins currently leads several projects exploring human-robot interaction, including an unusual study of motor learning through unicycle riding.
“As whimsical as it sounds, unicycling is an ideal platform for studying motor learning because it requires three-dimensional balance as well as forward propulsion,” Higgins explained. “By studying this unique skill, I’m diving deep into the motion that mirrors the art of walking!”
Her research also examines human intent prediction in environmental contexts, studying how humans anticipate and execute actions like sitting down when they spot a chair.
Advancing Rehabilitation Technology
The research has significant implications for rehabilitation robotics, particularly in devices like the EksoNR lower-limb powered exoskeleton by Ekso Bionics, which assists in gait training after neuromuscular injuries.
“Early controllers for devices like these are aimed to guide the user through normative gait patterns,” Higgins said. “However, scientists have found that the user needs to be actively engaged in attempting to initiate the movement themselves, otherwise they generally don’t realize any rehabilitation goals. So, we hope in the future by understanding current limitations we can improve these devices.”
This review article marks the beginning of what the researchers hope will be ongoing collaboration. “Human-robot interaction is no longer a brand-new field so we challenge other researchers to take the next step in developing better human-robot interactions in the future,” Higgins said.
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