Abhijeet Agnihotri
Toyota Research Institute, Toyota Motor Corporation (Switzerland), Oregon State University
Papers
6
Total Citations
86
H-Index
5
About
Abhijeet Agnihotri is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and gerontechnology, with a focus on designing robots that support meaning, purpose, and well-being in later life. His most influential work introduces the Japanese concept of *ikigai*—a sense of life worth living—into robotics, fundamentally shifting the field from purely hedonic or functional assistance toward eudaimonic support. His landmark paper, "Finding ikigai: How robots can support meaning in later life" (27 citations), was among the first to propose robots as facilitators of existential fulfillment for older adults. This was followed by "Making Meaning Together: Co-designing a Social Robot for Older Adults with Ikigai Experts" (20 citations), demonstrating a participatory design methodology that bridges cultural wisdom and robotic engineering. Agnihotri has also made notable contributions to robot persuasion and personality expression, as seen in his "Persuasive ChairBots" experiments (17 and 7 citations) and his work on distinguishing robot personality from motion (12 citations). His diverse portfolio includes bio-inspired robotics, such as the Bayesian optimization of an alligator-inspired robot’s terrestrial gait (3 citations). Through his innovative, human-centered approach, Agnihotri is redefining how robots can enrich the human experience, particularly in later life.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Finding ikigai: How robots can support meaning in later life27 citations · 2022
- 2
- 3Persuasive ChairBots: A (Mostly) Robot-Recruited Experiment17 citations · 2019
- 4Distinguishing Robot Personality from Motion12 citations · 2020
- 5Persuasive ChairBots: A Robot Recruited Experiment7 citations · 2019
- 6