Exploration of the Impact of Interpersonal Communication and Coordination Dynamics on Team Effectiveness in Human-Machine Teams

Abstract

Teams composed of human and machine members operating in complex task environments must effectively interact in response to information flow while adapting to environmental changes. This study investigates how interpersonal coordination dynamics between team members are associated with team performance and shared situation awareness in a simulated urban search and rescue (USAR) task. More specifically, this study investigates (1) how communication recurrence affected and reflected coordination dynamics between a USAR robot and human operator when they used different communication strategies, and (2) how these dynamic characteristics of the human–robot interpersonal coordination were associated with the team performance and shared situation awareness. The USAR interpersonal coordination dynamics were systematically characterized using discrete recurrence quantification analysis. Results from this study indicate that (1) teams demonstrating more flexibility in their coordination dynamics were more adaptive to changes in the task environment, and (2) while robot explanations help to improve shared situation awareness, revisiting the same communication pattern (i.e., routine coordination) was associated with better team performance, but did not improve shared situation awareness.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the assistance of Steven M. Shope and Paul Jorgenson, Sandia Research Corporation, who developed and provided the chat system. We also thank the many CERTT Lab students for their assistance in developing the task environment, data collection, and pre-processing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-18–1-0067]. Any findings or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the research sponsor.

Notes on contributors

Mustafa Demir

Mustafa Demir is an assistant research professor in Global Security Initiative at Arizona State University. Dr. Demir received his Ph.D. in Simulation, Modelling, and Applied Cognitive Science with a focus on team coordination dynamics and effectiveness in human-machine teaming from Arizona State University in Spring 2017.

Myke Cohen

Myke Cohen is a Ph.D. student in Human Systems Engineering and Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Dean’s Fellow at Arizona State University. His research center on socio-temporal aspects of teaming in complex work environments. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Craig J. Johnson

Craig J. Johnson is a Human Systems Engineering Ph.D. candidate and Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Dean’s Fellow at Arizona State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Human Systems Engineering from Arizona State University.

Erin K. Chiou

Erin K. Chiou is an assistant professor of human systems engineering at Arizona State University and directs the Automation Design Advancing People and Technology (ADAPT) Laboratory. She received her Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and B.S. in psychology and philosophy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Nancy J. Cooke

Nancy J. Cooke is a professor of Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University and directs ASU’s Center for Human, Artificial Intelligence, and Robot Teaming. Dr. Cooke studies individual and team cognition and its application to human, AI, and robot teaming and conducts empirical assessments of teams and teamwork.