Exploring the Effects of Swarm Degradations on Trustworthiness Perceptions, Reliance Intentions, and Reliance Behaviors

Swarms comprise robotic assets operating autonomously through local control laws. Research on human-swarm interaction (HSwI) investigates how human operators collaborate with swarms to accomplish shared goals. Researchers have begun investigate the role of trust in HSwI, specifically which aspects affect trust. Through a factors lens, present research builds earlier HSwI work and effect swarm asset degradations trustworthiness perceptions, reliance intentions, behaviors. Results showed that perceptions intentions rely (but not behaviors) were correlated, demonstrating relation between theoretically relevant antecedents contexts. Contrary past work, results no statistical evidence differentially or Limitations current (e.g., heterogeneity post-intervention foraging behavior, sample size) are discussed followed future suggestions.