(in German)

The allocation of work tasks to humans and machines is a challenge that researchers since the 1950s have dedicated themselves to, trying to find the optimal solution. How-ever, task allocation takes on an entirely new meaning when regarding human-robot interaction (HRI). Here, the full synergetic potential can be tapped by a combination of human and robotic labour. Instead of regarding both separately and creating work, especially in the manufacturing context, that contains partially automated, fixed pro-cesses and remaining work done by the human, new technological developments in the field of collaborative robotics allow for a flexible collaboration of humans and robots in team structures. This collaboration offers opportunities for human-centred work de-sign, but requires new, innovative approaches to task allocation. Optimising the allo-cation can no longer be the sole focus, but has to give way to a procedural view. Task allocation has to be regarded as a process that can be shaped and influenced and in which the psychological consequences of different process designs are prospectively taken into account. Therefore, the dissertation’s goal is to shed light on task allocation processes from the perspective of humane work (see e.g. Hacker & Richter, 1980) and to identify and measure psychological consequences of their design. By this, an es-sential foundation for a sustainable, successful and human-centred design of human-robot interaction is laid.

The topic is addressed from a theoretical and empirical perspective in three articles. The manipulations of an online and a laboratory experiment (articles 2 and 3) build upon a process model of task allocation deduced from literature (article 1). In both experiments, work psychological variables central to the allocation process - which are part of the model - are examined, such as experienced autonomy and mental effort. The studies show that the design of the allocation process, particularly the degree of influence the workers can exceed over the allocation, has an impact on how an HRI is experienced: Medium to large effects on satisfaction, experienced autonomy, mental effort and process control are shown, as well as the influence of trust in the technology.

In the concluding discussion, the results are reviewed in synopsis, implications for the allocation design in HRI are derived and a comprehensive research program on the topic of dynamic task allocation is presented, structured according to the principle of technology, organisation und person (TOP). The dissertation’s contribution to the de-velopment of the field of humane task allocation processes integrated into the work process and to research on it from a sociotechnical perspective is highlighted.

Please download the complete report "Task Allocation in Human-Robot Interaction: A Psychological Consideration of Task Allocation Processes for Designing Human-Centred Cooperation between Humans and Robots" (in German only).