In this episode, Filippo Sanfilippo is joined by Claudio Pacchierotti, a CNRS researcher at IRISA and an expert in haptics, wearable interfaces, robotic teleoperation, and shared control. They explore how touch can become a communication channel between humans and machines, and why haptic feedback matters for safer, more intuitive human-robot teaming.We discuss how autonomy can shift fluidly between humans and robots depending on task difficulty, confidence, and environmental uncertainty, plus where wearable haptics are heading next and which applications stand to benefit most.

Key topics

• Filippo Sanfilippo introduces human-robot teaming as the next step beyond human-robot interaction and collaboration, where humans and robots share space, forces, and decisions.
• Claudio explains haptics as a communication channel that adds a physical layer to human-machine interaction, making control more natural and safe.
• We discuss why touch is still underexplored compared with vision and audio, even though it becomes critical when humans and robots physically interact.
• Claudio describes shared control and shifting autonomy, where the robot takes on more or less of the task depending on confidence, task difficulty, and sensor quality.
• The episode looks at how haptic feedback supports situational awareness without overloading the visual channel.
• Claudio explains why wearable haptics matter for teleoperation and training, especially when natural dexterity must be preserved.
• We discuss cutaneous haptics such as vibration, skin stretch, pressure, and temperature, and how these can be combined with vision and audio.
• Claudio highlights practical application areas including drone fleets, humanoid robots, hospitals, logistics, medicine, space, defense, delivery, and factories.
• The conversation closes on the idea of human-centered robotics, where robots empower humans rather than replace them.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introducing Claudio Pacchierotti and the idea of human-robot teaming

00:32 - Claudio’s background in haptics, wearable interfaces, and shared control

01:31 - Why touch matters in human-machine interaction

03:05 - From human-robot collaboration to shared space, forces, and decisions

04:09 - Haptics as a communication channel between humans and robots

06:26 - Shared control for complex systems like humanoid robots and drone fleets

08:26 - How haptic feedback improves situational awareness during control

09:56 - Why touch can convey physical and abstract information without visual overload

11:15 - Shifting autonomy based on task difficulty and confidence

13:10 - Using shifting autonomy for training and complex robotic systems

15:17 - Cutaneous haptics, safe teleoperation, and keeping dexterity intact

17:22 - Combining vibration, pressure, skin stretch, and temperature

18:48 - Where human-robot teaming matters most in real-world applications

21:05 - Better actuators, sensors, algorithms, and haptic interfaces for teaming

23:13 - Why rich feedback improves trust, acceptance, and collaboration

24:56 - “Just enough haptics” and the future of wearable interfaces

27:12 - Human-centered robotics that empower rather than replace people

30:07 - Why the field is broad, multidisciplinary, and still expanding

Notable quotes

“Haptics as a way of communication between humans and cyber-physical systems.”

“We believe in robots that can empower humans, not replace humans.”

“Just enough haptics.”