Teaming Up with Robots: An IMOI (Inputs-Mediators-Outputs-Inputs) Framework of Human–Robot Teamwork

Abstract

Despite the established volume of literature on human–robot interaction, the ways in which humans and robots work together as a team have been relatively understudied. Current approaches to human–robot teamwork do not fully address issues associated with team phenomena that involve multiple humans and robots in the team. In this paper we propose a working framework for human–robot teams, based on an IMOI (inputs-mediators-outputs inputs) framework for teamwork in human teams. The proposed framework describes the developmental process of human–robot teams in which different characteristics of humans and robots produce team outcomes through various mediators within organizational contexts. The framework provides a theoretical guide to better understand how teams working with robots operate and how to improve various team outcomes.