Using signs for configuring work tasks of service robots

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe how signs can be used as a part of the work task scenarios with service robot. Design/methodology/approach – The signs are used to control a work task of a mobile service robot. Tests are done in real outdoor and non‐structured environments with the WorkPartner robot. In the test scenario the signs are used to define the boundaries of a working area. Two different kinds of signs are tested: passive and active. Findings – The signs can be used as a simple way to define the parameters of a work task. One of the advantages is usability. For example, the signs can just be carried to the working area and no other actions are needed. Research limitations/implications – The tests focused only on bounding the working area with signs. Using the signs for pointing a direction, marking a route, or defining a location of a single target will be tested in the future. Practical implications – Signs are an easy way to configure work tasks of service robots. The concept can be applied to various kinds of mobile robots. Originality/value – The signs are introduced as an alternative or complementary tool for passing information of the task plan of a work task from the human operator to the service robot.