Cognition expert explores the nuances of human-robot interactions

Agnieszka Wykowska shares research, areas of investigation in human-robot interaction at CMU-Q distinguished lecture

In a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Agnieszka Wykowska outlined some current areas of inquiry into how humans perceive and interact with robots. Wykowska, who leads the Italian Institute of Technology’s Social Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction unit, was speaking as part of CMU-Q’s Distinguished Lecture Series. She is also affiliated with Sweden’s Luleå University of Technology as an adjunct professor in engineering psychology.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, Wykowska looks at how robot behavior can influence human social attunement. Simple interactions, like a robot appearing to look in a person’s eyes, can have a dramatic effect on how a person perceives and interacts with the robot.

“We have a lot of work to do to bring robots to a state where they can attune with people,” she commented. “I’m interested in whether there are certain patterns of robot behavior that will make us think of the robot as a social entity rather than an artifact.”

Wykowska’s research has potential applications that could have a far-reaching impact on people who need daily care, including the elderly and those with physical limitations.