Anusha Withana

Papers

Total Citations

151

H-Index

About

Anusha Withana is a researcher whose work bridges robotics, human-computer interaction, and tangible interfaces, with a focus on making technology more accessible and interactive. Her key research areas include robotic cooking systems, soft robotics, and tele-existence applications. Withana's major contributions are exemplified by her pioneering work on "Cooking with robots" (2010, 72 citations), where she proposed a system that autonomously cooks meals by pouring ingredients and adjusting heat, demonstrating practical robotics in open environments. She also developed "PINOKY" (2012, 43 citations), a wireless ring-like device that transforms any plush toy into a soft robot, enabling users to animate toys remotely or through direct movement input—a novel approach to tangible interaction. Her earlier work on bipedal walking robots for entertainment (2009, 20 citations) explored tele-existence for remote control, while the "Cooky" system (2011, 11 citations) advanced cooperative human-robot cooking. Withana's impact is evident in the citation counts of her most-cited papers, which highlight her role in advancing interactive robotics and user-friendly interfaces. Her achievements include creating systems that blend robotics with everyday life, making her a notable figure in the field of human-robot interaction.