A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Haptic Interfaces on Task Performance with Teleoperation Systems

Human task performance with teleoperation systems is characterized by long task completion times, handling errors, and excessive force application to objects in the remote environment. Haptic interfaces promise to address these challenges by providing the human user with sensory feedback from the remote environment that would otherwise be lacking. Until now, only few attempts have been made to present current research efforts from a broader, more integrative perspective. To address this need, several meta-analyses were conducted, which aimed at establishing the overall effectiveness of haptic interfaces in improving the critical performance aspects in teleoperation systems. In this context, the influence of potential moderator variables (i.e., virtual versus real teleoperation setup; vibrotactile versus kinaesthetic force feedback) as well as outcome-specific effects (i.e., force regulation ability; task completion time; performance errors) were investigated.