Contact Dr Sarah Fletcher
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758234
- Email: s.fletcher@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter: @drfletch67
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Aerospace Manufacturing
- Human Factors
- Industrial Ergonomics and Human Factors
- Manufacturing Systems
Background
Sarah leads the Industrial Psychology and Human Factors (IPHF) group in the Centre for Structures, Assembly and Intelligent Automation which works to enhance the safe and effective integration of people in new processes and with new technologies. She has been conducting human-systems research at Cranfield for over 24 years, leading the human analysis work on many UK and EU projects in the manufacturing sector as well as defence, automotive and transport. Sarah teaches and supervises at Masters and Doctoral level and has developed new modules for Cranfield's MSc in Robotics and MSc in Applied Artificial Intelligence courses. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Chartered Institute of Human Factors and the Women's Engineering Society, and an active participant in a number of ISO and BSI standards committees involving robotics and ergonomics.
Research opportunities
Sarah's research focuses primarily on studying the psychological and social aspects of human-system / human-robot interaction in industrial / work settings. In particular, her work explores how people respond to, and work with, intelligent and digital technologies and to develop solutions that will promote their safety, acceptance, satisfaction and performance. She has worked towards the development of mixed methods that provide more comprehensive and reliable human analysis, combining traditional subjective and psychometric techniques with novel sensor-based physiological measurement tools.
Current activities
Current research activities include leading the human analysis work across five EC Horizon Europe projects - AI-PRISM, CONVERGING, FEROX, JARVIS and MASTERLY - and in the UK's Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Smart, Collaborative Industrial Robotics, also known as the Smart Cobotics Centre.
She is also actively involved in the development of national and international standards for robotics, industrial safety, and ergonomics of human-system interaction. This work has included contributing to the development of the world's first standard for ethical design and application of robots (BS 8611:2016) and running a national survey to capture public opinions and acceptance of robots in everyday settings: BSI/Cranfield robot survey
Clients
Airbus
BAE Systems
Ford
Meggitt
Rolls-Royce
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Ariansyah D, Erkoyuncu JA, Eimontaite I, Johnson T, Oostveen A-M, .... (2022). A head mounted augmented reality design practice for maintenance assembly: Toward meeting perceptual and cognitive needs of AR users. Applied Ergonomics, 98(January)
- Story M, Webb P, Fletcher SR, Tang G, Jaksic C, .... (2022). Do Speed and Proximity Affect Human-Robot Collaboration with an Industrial Robot Arm?. International Journal of Social Robotics, 14(4)
- Ferreira MIA & Fletcher SR. (2022). Preface. Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering, 81
- Story M, Jaksic C, Fletcher SR, Webb P, Tang G, .... (2021). Evaluating the use of human aware navigation in industrial robot arms. Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 12(1)
- Ibarguren A, Eimontaite I, Outón JL & Fletcher S. (2020). Dual Arm Co-Manipulation Architecture with Enhanced Human–Robot Communication for Large Part Manipulation. Sensors, 20(21)
- Fletcher SR, Johnson T, Adlon T, Larreina J, Casla P, .... (2020). Adaptive automation assembly: Identifying system requirements for technical efficiency and worker satisfaction. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 139
- Johnson TL, Fletcher SR, Baker W & Charles RL. (2019). How and why we need to capture tacit knowledge in manufacturing: Case studies of visual inspection. Applied Ergonomics, 74
- Fletcher SR, Johnson TL & Thrower J. (2018). A study to trial the use of inertial non-optical motion capture for ergonomic analysis of manufacturing work. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 232(1)
- Charalambous G, Fletcher SR & Webb P. (2017). The development of a Human Factors Readiness Level tool for implementing industrial human-robot collaboration. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 91(5-8)
- Charalambous G, Fletcher S & Webb P. (2016). The Development of a Scale to Evaluate Trust in Industrial Human-robot Collaboration. International Journal of Social Robotics, 8(2)
- Charalambous G, Fletcher S & Webb P. (2015). Identifying the key organisational human factors for introducing human-robot collaboration in industry: an exploratory study. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 81(9-12)
- Everitt J, Fletcher S & Caird-Daley A. (2015). Task analysis of discrete and continuous skills: a dual methodology approach to human skills capture for automation. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 16(5)
- Lockett H, Fletcher S & Luquet N. (2014). Applying Design for Assembly Principles in Computer Aided Design to Make Small Changes that Improve the Efficiency of Manual Aircraft Systems Installations. SAE International Journal of Aerospace, 7(2)
- Baines T, Lightfoot H, Smart P & Fletcher S. (2013). Servitization of manufacture. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 24(4)
- Tiewtrakul T & Fletcher SR. (2010). The challenge of regional accents for aviation English language proficiency standards: A study of difficulties in understanding in air traffic control–pilot communications. Ergonomics, 53(2)
- Fletcher SR, Baines TS & Harrison DK. (2008). An investigation of production workers’ performance variations and the potential impact of attitudes. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 35(11-12)
Conference Papers
- Fletcher S, Eimontaite I, Webb P & Lohse N. (2023). “We don’t need ergonomics anymore, we need psychology!” – the human analysis needed for human-robot collaboration
- Eimontaite I, Fletcher SR, Rizzi A, Minissale A & Abba FF. (2022). Exoskeleton-Enhanced Manufacturing; A Study Exploring Psychological and Physical Effects on Assembly Operators' Wellbeing
- Eimontaite I, Fletcher SR, Rizzi A, Minissale A & Abba FF. (2022). Exoskeleton-Enhanced Manufacturing; A Study Exploring Psychological and Physical Effects on Assembly Operators' Wellbeing
- Eimontaite I, Togias T, Fletcher S & Dimitropoulos N. (2022). User guided augmented reality manufacturing assembly instruction development: Changing work modes during COVID -19 and its implications
- Wood Z, Godsiff P & Fletcher S. (2022). Servitization: insights from applied ontology
- Johnson TL, Fletcher SR & Kutka R. (2019). Understanding how proximity to a robot affects perceived workload
- Fletcher SR, Johnson TL & Larreina J. (2019). Putting People and Robots Together in Manufacturing: Are We Ready?
- Everitt JW & Fletcher SR. (2018). RELIGIOUSBEHAVIOURASABUFFERAGAINST OCCUPATIONAL STRESS
- Charalambous G, Fletcher S & Webb P. (2016). Development of a Human Factors Roadmap for the Successful Implementation of Industrial Human-Robot Collaboration
- Johnson T, Tang G, Fletcher SR & Webb P. (2016). Investigating the Effects of Signal Light Position on Human Workload and Reaction Time in Human-Robot Collaboration Tasks
- Johnson TL & Fletcher SR. (2015). The limitations of using only CAD and DHM in design relating to high value manufacturing
- Charles RL, Charalambous G & Fletcher SR. (2015). Your new colleague is a robot. Is that ok?
- Charles RL, Tailor M & Fletcher SR. (2015). Search strategies in human visual inspection
- Charles RL, Johnson TL & Fletcher SR. (2015). The Use of Job Aids for Visual Inspection in Manufacturing and Maintenance
- Tang G, Charalambous G, Webb P & Fletcher S. (2014). Users’ understanding of industrial robot gesture motions and effects on trust
- Fletcher S & Johnson T. (2014). Investigating the impact of product orientation on musculoskeletal risk in aerospace manufacturing
- Johnson T & Fletcher S. (2014). A computer software method for ergonomic analysis utilising non-optical motion capture
- Caird-Daley A, Fletcher SR & Baker W. (2013). Automating Human Skills: Preliminary Development of a Human Factors Methodology to Capture Tacit Cognitive Skills
- Charalambous G, Fletcher S & Webb P. (2013). Human-automation collaboration in manufacturing: Identifying key implementation factors
- Walton M, Fletcher SR & Webb P. (2012). Developing true cooperation between human operators and robots in assembly work systems: a proxemic study
- Romero-Albarracin M & Fletcher SR. (2012). An exploratory study to identify impacts of confined space working in modern manufacturing
- Sotiriadis PC & Fletcher SR. (2010). The impact of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) on the performance of UK firefighters
- Baines TS, Asch R, Hadfield L, Mason JP, Fletcher S, .... (2005). Towards a theoretical framework for human performance modelling within manufacturing systems design
- Fletcher SR, Baines TS, Asch RE & Ladbrook J. (2003). Understanding the impact of workers to improve manufacturing system design capabilities
- Mason JP, Fletcher S, Baines T & Ladbrook J. (2001). Physical environment - a challenge to the extension of simulation capabilities
- Fletcher S, Mason JP, Baines T, Asch R & Ladbrook J. (2001). Understanding the impact of human variability in the manufacturing system
- Eimontaite I, Fletcher S, Goławski K & Kołcon T. Breaking the barriers: multilingual user engagement to increase process engagement and technology acceptance in manufacturing
- Lee H-I, Lee S, Shin H-S, Tsourdos A & Fletcher S. Human Factor Analysis in Robotic and Autonomous Systems for Military Applications
- Koukas S, Broechler R, Haninger K, Gautam M, Ubis F, .... Software Architecture and Human-Centric design methodology in Human-Robot collaborative production systems
- Godhania S, Eimontaite I & Fletcher S. Physiological and Eye Tracking determinants as markers of Skill Acquisition in Manual Inspection
- Sashidharan V, Eimontaite I, Fletcher S, Arpa A, Mazzon A, .... Collaboration and Co-creation in Industry 5.0: User-engagement with industrial operators through co-creation workshops
Books
- Charalambous G & Fletcher SR. (2022). Trust in Industrial Human–Robot Collaboration In Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering (81). Springer International Publishing.
- Aldinhas Ferreira MI & Fletcher SR (eds). (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain Management
- Charalambous G & Fletcher SR. (2021). Trust in industrial human-robot collaboration In Aldinhas Ferreira MI & Fletcher SR (eds), The 21st Century Industrial Robot: When Tools Become Collaborators (81). Springer.
- Aldinhas Ferreira MI & Fletcher SR (eds). (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain Management
- Fletcher SR, Johnson TL & Larreina J. (2019). Chapter 12: Putting people and robots together in manufacturing: are we ready? In Ferreira MIA, Sequeira JS, Virk GS & al E (eds), Robotics and Well-Being. Springer.
- Fletcher SR & Webb P. (2017). Industrial Robot Ethics: The Challenges of Closer Human Collaboration in Future Manufacturing Systems In Ferreira MIA, Sequeira JS, Tokhi MO, Kadar EE & Virk GS (eds), Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering (84). Springer International Publishing.
- Johnson TL, Fletcher S & Webb PF. (2016). Investigating the effects of signal light position on human workload and reaction time in human-robot collaboration tasks In Schlick C & Trzcieliński S (eds), Advances in Ergonomics of Manufacturing: Managing the Enterprise of the Future: Proceedings of the AHFE 2016 International Conference on Human Aspects of Advanced Manufacturing, July 27-31, 2016, Walt Disney World®, Florida, USA. Springer.
- Mgbemena CE, Oyekan J, Tiwari A, Xu Y, Fletcher S, .... (2016). Gesture Detection Towards Real-Time Ergonomic Analysis for Intelligent Automation Assistance In Schlick CM & Trzcieliński S (eds), Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing (490). Springer International Publishing.
