Virtual Reality Experience and Motion Sickness in Construction Human-Robot Collaboration Learning

VR offers an immersive and interactive environment that enhances learning experiences, particularly in complex domains like HRC. By simulating realistic scenarios, individuals can gain practical skills without real-world risks. Customizable training scenarios cater to learners’ specific needs, and remote collaboration facilitates participation regardless of physical location, thereby enhancing learning outcomes, mitigating risks, and improving cost-effectiveness. However, the adoption of VR in sectors like architecture, engineering, and construction remains limited, partly due to challenges such as motion sickness. Symptoms like nausea, dizziness, headache, and eyestrain can arise from the sensory conflicts inherent in VR experiences. While technological advancements have mitigated some side effects, understanding how users with varying levels of VR experience respond differently to these technologies remains crucial. This study investigates motion sickness issues in HRC learning to enhance user experiences. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, the research identifies and prioritizes symptoms experienced during VR interactions. Results reveal a predominance of male skilled operators with limited prior VR experience. General discomfort, dizziness, headache, difficulty focusing, and nausea emerge as top symptoms, highlighting challenges in VR usage for HRC learning. Efforts to design VR devices and experiences that minimize discomfort are essential to improve user acceptance and engagement. Strategies such as incorporating breaks and limiting exposure duration can alleviate symptoms and enhance overall user experience. By addressing motion sickness and associated discomforts, VR technology can realize its full potential in enhancing human-robot collaboration and learning in the construction industry and beyond.