Teleoperated control of locomotion with time delays for reconnaissance in dangerous fire situations

This thesis explores the effects of time delays on teleoperated robotic systems in high-risk environments, specifically focusing on fire reconnaissance applications. In such hazardous settings, time delays can impair an operator's ability to control a robotic platform accurately and maintain situational awareness, directly impacting mission success and safety. This research investigates the thresholds at which time delays hinder performance and evaluates mitigation strategies like predictive displays and enhanced interface designs to support operators. Through controlled simulations involving delayed video feedback and situational awareness tests, this study assesses cognitive load, efficiency in task completion, and precision in navigation. Contrary to initial expectations, findings indicate that while operators generally maintained task performance under delayed conditions, longer delays significantly increased frustration levels, highlighting emotional strain as a critical challenge in teleoperated control. This emphasizes the need for design improvements targeting emotional resilience and frustration reduction, suggesting that low-speed teleoperation and frustration management strategies could enhance operator experience and sustain task performance in delay-prone environments.