Making construction work safer when people and robots team up using VR and wearables
Official title: Human-Robot Collaboration in Construction: Assessing Cognitive Factors for Construction Workers Using Virtual Reality-Wearable Devices-Data Analytics Integrated Approach
Funded at Mississippi State University · NIH-11196050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses virtual reality and wearable sensors to monitor attention, stress, and fatigue in construction workers who work with robots to help make jobs safer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mississippi State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mississippi State, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $125,723 |
| NIH project number | 5R21OH012742-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adult construction workers or tradespeople who work with or near collaborative robots, or those willing to join simulated robot-work sessions.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not work in construction or will never interact with robots on the job are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you take part, you'll wear small sensors and use virtual-reality scenarios that mimic real construction tasks with robots. The team will record your attention, stress, and mental fatigue during these simulated and/or real on-site tasks. Researchers will analyze the sensor and VR data to spot patterns that lead to risky interactions and to design ways to reduce those risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reduce on-the-job accidents and improve worker health by detecting risky fatigue and stress states and guiding safer human-robot practices.
How similar studies have gone: Wearables and VR have been used successfully to detect fatigue and stress in other workplace settings, but using them specifically for human-robot collaboration in construction is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jun — Mississippi State University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jun
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.