Humans, software agents, and robots in hybrid teams. Effects on work, safety, and health

Digital developments change the modern way of work. New forms of cooperation between humans and robots or digital software agents in hybrid teams are studied extensively within different disciplines, offering the potential for interdisciplinary exchange. This article spotlights a work psychological perspective on hybrid team design and implementation. The article is threefold. First, we outline how the socio-digital way of work differs from the long-known mechanization and digitalization of work and discuss complex effects on work, safety, and health. Second, concepts and approaches from different disciplines including human factors and psychology are reviewed that can help to holistically describe and evaluate hybrid teams. Third, the article concludes with cross-disciplinary characteristics of successful hybrid team design, implementation, and optimization. In each part, the article transfers the scientific findings to a concrete application field of autonomous robots in ship inspections. The article is valuable for any researcher or practitioner interested or involved in the implementation of autonomous solutions in a work environment.