Using Mobile AR for Rapid Feasibility Analysis for Deployment of Robots: A Usability Study with Non-Expert Users
Non-expert users face significant challenges in performing feasibility analysis for robot deployment on automated production lines, due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of conventional digital simulation workflows. Method: This study proposes a lightweight evaluation method based on mobile augmented reality (AR), marking the first application of smartphone-based AR to industrial robot reachability analysis. The approach integrates real-time spatial perception, 3D kinematic visualization, interactive reachable workspace rendering, and simplified scene modeling—bypassing traditional offline simulation. Contribution/Results: Evaluated with 22 non-expert users, the method achieved an average assessment time of 9.7 minutes per task, significantly reduced cognitive load, and attained a System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 4.6/5. By eliminating reliance on specialized robotics expertise and simulation software, it enables “capture-and-analyze” on-site evaluation, establishing a novel paradigm for rapid, context-aware decision-making in industrial environments.