Article,

Designing for diversity: a feminist technoscience and behavioural fabrication approach in human--robot collaboration education for Industry 5.0

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Construction Robotics, 9 (2): 24 (Sep 22, 2025)
DOI: 10.1007/s41693-025-00164-y

Abstract

This research addresses the gap between technical advancement and human factors in human--robot collaboration (HRC) education for digital fabrication. Current pedagogical approaches predominantly focus on technological capabilities while neglecting critical aspects of user diversity, accessibility, and contextual adaptability essential to Industry 5.0 implementation. We present a human-centered HRC design methodology integrating feminist technoscience (FTS) dimensions with behavioural fabrication techniques. The framework consists of three components: (1) an FTS framework and framework to guide and evaluate HRC design; (2) a cyber-physical system enabling real-time sensor-driven robot behavior; and (3) a modified Double-Diamond Approach (DDA) that systematically guides students through creative processes, for iterative design. The methodology was tested through a four-day workshop with graduate architecture and engineering students, who developed four distinct HRC workflows incorporating voice control, gesture recognition, computer vision feedback, and multilingual interfaces. Using the FTS rubric, we observed that students were able to translate abstract concepts---such as user diversity, agency, and bias---into concrete design decisions, despite limited prior experience in robotics or feminist critique. These outcomes suggest that the integrated approach effectively supports students in addressing practical HRC challenges while remaining attentive to the social and ethical dimensions of automation. This work contributes a reproducible methodology for preparing future practitioners to design HRC systems that are technically robust while remaining responsive to user needs, thereby advancing the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 priorities.

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