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About

Nikolas Martelaro is a human-robot interaction (HRI) researcher whose work spans robot-mediated social dynamics, design methodology, and the real-world deployment of autonomous systems in public spaces. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering investigation into robots as conflict mediators — his 2015 study on using robots to repair interpersonal violations within teams has garnered over 170 citations, establishing him as a leading voice in socially intelligent robotics. His complementary work on trust, disclosure, and companionship in HRI has further shaped how designers think about robot expressivity and vulnerability as tools for building meaningful human connections. Martelaro has also made significant methodological contributions, championing exploratory prototyping through his widely cited "Fake It to Make It" framework and investigating how servo motor sounds shape user perception in robotic interaction design. More recently, his research has turned toward robots in the urban environment, with observational studies of sidewalk delivery robots in Pittsburgh and co-design work centering the needs of people with mobility disabilities — ensuring that the proliferation of public robots does not come at the cost of accessibility. Across more than 495 cumulative citations, his scholarship consistently bridges technical innovation with human-centered, inclusive design thinking.