cff-version: 1.2.0
abstract: "<p>Robots are becoming more capable and can autonomously perform tasks such as navigating between locations. However, human oversight remains crucial. This study compared two touchless methods for directing mobile robots: voice control and gesture control, to investigate the efficiency of these methods and the preference of users. We tested these methods in two conditions: one in which participants remained stationary and one in which they walked freely alongside the robot. We hypothesized that walking alongside the robot would result in higher intuitiveness ratings and improved task performance, based on the idea that walking promotes spatial alignment and reduces the effort required for mental rotation. In a 2×2 within-subject design, 218 participants guided the quadruped robot Spot along a circuitous route with multiple 90° turns using rotate left, rotate right, and walk forward commands. After each trial, participants rated the intuitiveness of the command mapping, while post-experiment interviews were used to gather the participants’ preferences. Results showed that voice control combined with walking with Spot was the most favored and intuitive, whereas gesture control while standing caused confusion for left/right commands. Nevertheless, 29% of participants preferred gesture control, citing increased task engagement and visual congruence as reasons. An odometry-based analysis revealed that participants often followed behind Spot, particularly in the gesture control condition, when they were allowed to walk. In conclusion, voice control with walking produced the best outcomes. Improving physical ergonomics and adjusting gesture types could make gesture control more effective.</p>"
authors:
  - family-names: Zhang
    given-names: Renchi
    orcid: "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-7603"
  - family-names: Van der Linden
    given-names: Jesse
    orcid: "https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2112-4187"
  - family-names: Dodou
    given-names: Dimitra
    orcid: "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9428-3261"
  - family-names: Seyffert
    given-names: Harleigh
    orcid: "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0323-2096"
  - family-names: Eisma
    given-names: Yke Bauke
  - family-names: de Winter
    given-names: Joost
    orcid: "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1281-8200"
title: "Supplementary data for the paper: Walk along: An experiment on controlling the mobile robot &#34;Spot’&#34; with voice and gestures"
keywords:
version: 1
identifiers:
  - type: doi
    value: 10.4121/96642016-963c-427d-bcd7-bd6d990fc264.v1
license: CC BY 4.0
date-released: 2025-04-28