Exploring multi-human multi-robot collaboration in assembly processes: Challenges and opportunities in quality and manufacturing

The recent evolution of robotic systems is pushing the manufacturing sector towards continuous adaptation, incorporating novel technologies. Industry 5.0 is shifting the attention from basic human-robot interactions, typically between a single human operator and a single robot, to more complex configurations of multi-human multi-robot (MH-MR) teams. These advanced systems, in which multiple human and robot agents collaborate on shared tasks, can offer significant advantages on flexibility, adaptability and productivity, while reducing operators’ workload. However, integrating these systems introduces new challenges: such as governing interactions within the team, means of communication and human behavior. Traditional models may no longer be adequate to capture the complexity of MH-MR teams. This paper aims to investigate the challenges and the open questions surrounding the adoption of MH-MR teams in manufacturing. A real case study in assembly is presented as an illustrative example to explore some of the key issues. This serves as a starting point for a broader discussion on how to effectively implement MH-MR teams in industrial contexts.