The extent of interaction between workers and robots is expected to increase in modern workplaces due to rapid advancements in robotic technologies. Advanced robotics often leverages progress in artificial intelligence, machine learning and sensor technologies to achieve higher levels of sophistication and versatility. The enhanced capabilities of new-generation robots facilitate increased collaboration between humans and robots, partly by ensuring safety when humans and robots are working in proximity. This marks a move away from traditional robots, often confined to cages on the shop floor to isolate them from human operators. In spite of the many benefits, there are lingering concerns around the requirement for workers to continually adapt to new or changing tasks and roles, the possibility of monitoring workers’ activities at an unprecedented level of granularity, diminished autonomy and control over the pace of work, and the emergence of new health and safety risks, including of a psychosocial nature. Drawing on survey data and case studies investigating advanced robotic systems and applications, this report explores the opportunities and challenges that come with closer human–robot interaction, with a view to contributing to the broader policy debate on the automation of work.
Authors
Eurofound, EU body or agency, Riso, Sara, Adascalitei, Dragos
- Catalogue number
- TJ-09-24-447-EN-N TJ-09-24-447-EN-C
- Citation
- Eurofound, Riso, S. and Adascalitei, D., Human–robot interaction – What changes in the workplace? , Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2806/601796
- DOI
- https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2806/67956 https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2806/601796
- ISBN
- 978-92-897-2409-8
- Pages
- 62
- Published in
- Belgium
- Themes
- Industry — Enterprise — Services , Working conditions
Table of Contents
- Contents 5
- Executive summary 7
- Introduction 9
- Policy context and scope of the report 9
- Key definitions 10
- Digitalisation, digitisation and automation 10
- Human–machine interaction versus human–robot interaction 12
- Methodology 12
- Statistical analysis and main data sources 12
- Case study research 13
- Report structure 15
- Chapter 1: Prevalence of robots and impacts on working conditions 17
- Prevalence of advanced robots in the EU 17
- From robots to cobots 22
- Impact of robot use on working conditions 22
- Summary 24
- Chapter 2: Advanced robotics and human factors in technology adoption 25
- Overview of robotic applications across sectors 25
- From stand-alone robotic applications to integrated cyber-physical systems in the industrial sector 25
- Advanced robotic applications in the health and services sectors 27
- Role of human factors in technology adoption 30
- Motivations for robotic technology adoption 30
- Risk assessments and piloting 31
- Training provision 32
- Employee involvement and social dialogue 34
- Summary 36
- Chapter 3: Impact on work organisation and working conditions 37
- Changes to work organisation 37
- Workspace redesign and changes to workflows 37
- Task definition, allocation and content 38
- Workplace monitoring and control 39
- Changes to working conditions 40
- Job discretion 40
- Skills use and skills requirements 41
- Working time and work intensity 42
- Social environment 42
- Occupational safety and health 44
- Earnings and career prospects 46
- Impacts on employment 47
- Summary 48
- Chapter 4: Conclusions 51
- Policy pointers 52
- References 55
- Annex 59
