The Human-Machine Symbiosis Laboratory: A New Testing Environment for Developing Symbiotic Human-Machine Systems

Abstract

Industry 5.0 envisions a shift in European manufacturing toward human-machine symbiosis, where humans and technical systems operate as adaptive partners. Realizing this vision poses challenges not only for work organization but also for product development of manufacturing machines and technical systems. To validate symbiotic interaction and to systematically generate development knowledge, suitable testing environments are lacking that focus on the interaction between humans and the technical system. To address this gap, the new Human-Machine Symbiosis Laboratory (HMS-Lab) is developed. It integrates three core aspects: simulation of technical systems, measurement of human physiology, and measurement of human perception. A mixed reality setup combines a six-axis industrial robot, a voice-coil shaker, modular handles, and a Unity-based VR environment. For the simulation of the technical system, this equipment enables immersive haptic, visual, and acoustic feedback and allows early evaluation of product behavior without physical prototypes. Human physiology is captured through motion capture for body posture, force plates, and a six-axis force/torque sensor for physical load, EMG sensors for muscle activation, and accelerometers for vibration dynamics. Human perception is assessed with standardized questionnaires and proxy variables such as eye-tracking via VR headsets. By synchronizing physical and virtual components in real time, the HMS-Lab establishes a closed-loop environment for investigating symbiosis. It enables systematic validation of product concepts and provides a scalable basis for building development knowledge, contributing directly to the realization of Industry 5.0.

Keywords: Human Machine Interaction, Human Robot Collaboration, Industry 5.0, Mixed Reality, Future Work, Human Machine Symbiosis

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006890