The Co-Pilot Era
The majority of the industrial age was about direct control. However, autonomous vehicles and robotics are changing this. Vehicles and robotics have become smarter and are able to take control of a task. This means the world is entering the co-pilot era. Whilst the human will still be in control of setting the destination, strategy and intervening if there is an issue, the vehicle or robot will take control. This is changing the way humans interact with vehicles and robots.
Hands Off
With autonomous vehicles, this is particularly true. Higher levels of autonomy mean vehicles will take full control of steering, braking and changing lanes for long periods of time. The human is left monitoring the vehicle for issues. As early data has shown, whilst this has improved safety in regular scenarios, such as reducing rear end collisions and improving traffic flow, there is an awkward transition period. It means the vehicle is intelligent enough to allow the driver to be relaxed, but not intelligent enough to fully trust.
There is an increased pressure on the driver to stay aware of what is going on around them. This also creates issues in legal and insurance industries. If there is an issue with an autonomous system, the blame may not be with the user but the designers of the system, software updates and how clear the handover is. This decreases the level of control the driver has.
Robotics
This is also true of collaborative robots (cobots) used in industry. Cobots work alongside humans and can carry out repetitive and heavy tasks. However, the human has control of any issues. In Operating theatres, there are robotic surgery systems which can take the actions of the surgeons and make them larger/ smaller movements without shaking.
Whilst the human will have control over where they operate and when to stop, there is still a lack of direct real-time control due to the software. Robots are becoming more common in domestic and logistics industries to sort, retrieve and navigate. This means there is a lot more interaction between humans and robots. The majority of control is taken by the robot, however the human will have control over strategy. This will mean many small decisions are made by the robot.
Psychological Factors
There are many factors to consider when looking at the redistribution of control. Removing the constant physical interaction can cause both positive and negative effects on the human. Drivers can feel less pressure on their brain due to long journeys, however there is a loss of ‘feel’ on the road. Some cobot operators can feel more engaged with their job due to not having to complete repetitive tasks. However, there is a risk of over reliance.
Related:
- How Disruptive AI and Emerging Tech Are Changing Daily Life
- How to Grow Your Startup in the Technology Industry: Strategies for Sustainable Business Success
- The Quiet Engine Behind Modern Market Intelligence
If a system works well for a long period of time, the human will become less aware of what is happening. This can cause longer response times. Systems which inform users how confident they are, what they can do and what they will not be able to do helps humans know when to intervene. Without this, there will be too much caution or recklessness.
Benefits, Risks & Blame
Autonomous vehicles and robotics can reduce human error in situations where fatigue would occur, allow those unable to drive to have mobility and give skilled individuals the chance to focus on decision making. However, they have introduced new risks. A software issue, blocked sensor or badly designed handover can cause issues for many vehicles or production lines. This can create a lack of clarity on who is to blame. The user who approved the system may share some blame with the company who created the software, the company who trained the model and the regulator who certified the system.
There is also issues with privacy and security due to the constant collection of data on the environment and behaviour. The labour market could also be impacted as there will be less demand for those carrying out repetitive physical tasks. However there will be more demand for those overseeing, maintaining and managing issues with the system. Those who see autonomous vehicles and robotics as tools to reduce labour will not invest enough in training humans to oversee them. Those who see them as co-pilots will need to update education, certification and liability.
Design Considerations
Whilst the Co-pilot era does not mean humans lose all control, meaningful control will depend on how the system is designed. Clear interfaces which show what is happening and why will be needed. Reliable and fast controls will be needed for humans to take over. Regulations will be needed to ensure the correct amount of blame is given to the right people. Training will need to change from purely focusing on skills to oversight and detecting anomalies.
The public should stop talking about whether robots are freeing us or replacing us and look at what conditions are needed to ensure humans have dignity, skill and responsibility. In vehicles there could be standardised confidence indicators and mandatory periods of hands on control. In workplaces there could be roles designed to keep humans in the loop for important decisions.
The Future
Autonomous vehicles and robotics are changing the way humans interact. Societies and organisations who see humans as a variable to be designed will benefit from the co-pilot era. If systems are designed to keep humans informed, empowered and responsible then the redistribution of control can increase safety, ability and opportunities.
If systems are designed to reduce human interaction then there will be many operators who are present but unable to control. The future will depend on how carefully we design systems to ensure humans are still in the loop.
