Page 64 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Cognitive Fatigue
In informed coexistence, mobile robots can differentiate between ob-
structions or hazards and other robots.In this type of system,the robots are
programmed to react or behave in a specific, but simple, way toward their
counterparts.The most common behavior is for a robot to execute a specific
set of movements when it senses the proximity of another robot,and a differ-
ent set of movements when it senses the proximity of a nonrobotic obstruc-
tion or hazard. An example is for the machine to stop and reverse direction
if it comes near an obstruction; but if it comes near another robot, it stops,
waits a second,and if the other robot remains in the way,turns right 90°,pro-
ceeds 1 m, then turns left 90° and resumes moving in the original direction.
In intelligent coexistence, as in informed coexistence, the robots can
differentiate between obstructions or hazards and other robots. However,
the programmed response is more sophisticated. For example, each
robot might be programmed to avoid coming within 1 m of any other robot.
If such an approach does occur, triggering the avoidance response, the
robot is programmed to move in a direction corresponding to the average
direction of all the other robots in the system. Each robot obtains this
general information from the controller. Compare COOPERATION.
See also AUTONOMOUS ROBOT, CENTRALIZED CONTROL, DISTRIBUTED CONTROL, and
INSECT ROBOT.
COGNITIVE FATIGUE
Cognitive fatigue is a form of mental exhaustion sometimes experienced by
users of telepresence systems. Most teleoperated systems must compromise
realism in order to keep within limitations imposed by available bandwidth
and allowable expense.
In a typical telepresence system, the cameras usually lack peripheral
vision. Signal propagation delays can cause latency problems (time lag
between command and response), particularly when teleoperation is done
over long distances. Image resolution (detail) and refresh rate (the number
of video frames per second) are generally compromised. Audio systems
are generally better than video systems because the necessary band-
widths are smaller, but tactile sensation is poor or absent.
Symptoms of cognitive fatigue include wandering attention, sleepiness,
headache, and irritability. These problems can result in equipment oper-
ation errors.
See also TELEPRESENCE.
COGNIZANT FAILURE
Cognizant failure is a feature of machine intelligence in which a failed
subsystem or program is replaced by one at a higher level, while ensuring

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