Robots are becoming nearly as common in assembly plants as nutrunners and conveyors. The advent of collaborative robots is only furthering that trend. However, as robots play a greater role on the line, engineers must ensure that workers remain safe around the technology.
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton in England shows why. The researchers found that robots can encourage people to take greater risks in a simulated gambling scenario than they would if there was nothing to influence their behaviors. “We know that peer pressure can lead to higher risk-taking behavior,” explains lead researcher Yaniv Hanoch, Ph.D., associate professor of risk management. “With the ever-increasing scale of interaction between humans and technology, both online and physically, it is crucial that we understand more about whether machines can have a similar impact.”