Introduction. The integration of collaborative robots (cobots) into industrial contexts raises fundamental questions about how human-robot teams organize work, distribute tasks, and maintain social cohesion. Moving beyond performance and production metrics, current research emphasizes the importance of psychological and social factors (e.g., trust, fairness, team cohesion) in determining the success of hybrid human-robot teams. In our research, we explore these dynamics by investigating how the presence of a cobot and the type of task assigned to it shape collaboration quality in small work groups.


Purpose. In this work, we explore these dynamics by investigating how the presence of a cobot and the type of task assigned to it shape collaboration quality and team climate in small work groups. The purpose is to provide empirical evidence on how cobot integration and task allocation affect both individual experiences and collective processes in teamwork.


Methods. In a controlled laboratory experiment simulating an industrial workcell, 26 triads of industrial operators performed assembly tasks. After working in a human-only team, the cobot was integrated as a third team member in the place of one human member, and when present, it was assigned either a logic-based task or a repetitive task. Data collection combined interviews, self-reports, behavioral observations and psychophysiological measures (eye-tracking, HRV, pupillometry), capturing together psychosocial dynamics (e.g., workload, trust, team cohesion) and cobot trust and acceptance.


Results. Preliminary analyses suggest a complex picture: while self-reports and behavioral indices sometimes point in different directions, they highlight that cobot presence and task assignments shape collaboration quality. Initial trends indicate that cobot influences social dynamics and operators' perceptions more than objective task performance.


Conclusions. This work highlights how cobot integration and task assignment critically shape the psychological climate of collaboration. These insights inform the design of human-centered cobot integration strategies that safeguard both productivity, team climate, and worker well-being.