Alyson Ranucci
Papers
1
Total Citations
5
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Alyson Ranucci is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and spatial cognition, whose work fundamentally rethinks how robots communicate about the unseen world. Her primary research areas include non-verbal robot communication, gesture-based referencing in large-scale environments, and the cognitive frameworks that enable effective human-robot collaboration beyond immediate visual fields. Ranucci’s major contribution lies in demonstrating that robots can effectively employ abstract, deictic gestures—such as vague pointing toward distant locations—to convey spatial information about objects and places outside their direct line of sight. Her landmark 2024 paper, "(Gestures Vaguely): The Effects of Robots' Use of Abstract Pointing Gestures in Large-Scale Environments," has already garnered 5 citations, signaling its foundational impact on the field. This work challenges the conventional focus on small-scale interaction contexts, opening new avenues for deploying robots in warehouses, hospitals, and urban environments where referring to remote landmarks is essential. Ranucci’s research is notable for bridging cognitive science and robotics, offering practical design principles for more intuitive, human-like robot communication. Her insights are shaping the next generation of autonomous systems that must navigate and converse about expansive, real-world spaces.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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