[Mental load of robot operation upon workers]

In recent years industrial robots have been widely used in factories. In various stages of their introduction mental stress on workers is predicted and factory workers and managers are being forced to deal with the problem seriously. This study centers upon the operation of taking and giving parts between men and robots to estimate the physical and mental load on workers through the analysis of behaviors by means of such physiological indices as RMR, GSR, EOG, etc. and Video Tapes. At the same time I examined the relation of the level of consciousness with the change of the time of selection responses and psychological quantity such as working senses. I also referred to observations and researches in the field of mental medicine. As compared with conveyer system work, robot operation gives a greater mental influence for better or worse, so a more careful operation control is needed from the viewpoint of labor hygiene.