Papers
6
Total Citations
81
H-Index
3
About
Ilona Straub’s research lies at the compelling intersection of human-robot interaction, social robotics, and the philosophy of technology, with a particular focus on how android robots challenge our definitions of sociality and agency. Her most influential work, “Incorporated identity in interaction with a teleoperated android robot” (36 citations), provides a foundational case study on how people ascribe social presence and identity to humanoid machines, directly confronting the uncanny valley effect. In her highly cited follow-up, “‘It looks like a human!’” (29 citations), Straub deepens this inquiry by demonstrating the interrelation of social presence, interaction, and agency ascription, showing that an android’s human-like appearance can trigger profound shifts in how users perceive its social standing. She has also contributed to the critical discourse on autonomous systems through a special issue on moving beyond the laboratory to consider real-world ethical, legal, and social implications. Across her body of work, Straub systematically traces the transition of an android from object to subject, arguing that sociality is not limited to humans. Her research is essential reading for anyone exploring the boundaries of embodied intelligence and the social life of robots.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Zur Sozialität und Entität eines androiden Roboters3 citations · 2020
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- 6Embodied Intelligence in Physical, Social and Technological Environments2 citations · 2022