Limited Physical Presence: Telepresence robots lack the physical presence and sensory capabilities of local users, which can hinder their ability to fully engage in collaborative activities that require physical interactions or nuanced non-verbal communication.
Technological Constraints: Telepresence robots may face technical limitations such as connectivity issues, limited battery life, and restricted mobility in certain environments, impacting their effectiveness as equal collaborative partners.
Lack of Environmental Awareness: Remote users controlling telepresence robots may have difficulty perceiving the environment accurately, leading to challenges in spatial orientation, situational awareness, and understanding the context of collaborative tasks.
Communication Barriers: Telepresence robots may struggle to convey emotions, intentions, and social cues effectively, making it challenging for remote users to establish rapport, build trust, and maintain social connections with local users.
Role Imbalance: In collaborative settings, telepresence robots are often perceived as followers rather than equal partners, leading to unequal distribution of responsibilities and decision-making authority among local and remote users.
Addressing these challenges and limitations requires innovative design solutions that enhance the capabilities of telepresence robots, improve user experience, and promote seamless collaboration between local and remote users.