Amy G. Hopper

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Amy G. Hopper is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and the performing arts. Her work uniquely explores how untrained individuals perceive and respond to robots in creative, unstructured environments. Hopper’s most cited contributions center on the concept of *social proof*—the phenomenon where people mimic the behaviors of others in ambiguous situations. She demonstrated this through a landmark 2010 study that introduced two types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into a live production of *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*. By analyzing how actors, who had no prior robotics experience, followed metaphorical instructions to interact with the drones, Hopper revealed that social proof can shape human-robot dynamics even in artistic contexts. Her research, which has garnered over 20 citations across closely related papers, offers foundational insights for designing robots that collaborate with non-experts. Hopper’s work stands out for its creative methodology—blending theater, psychology, and engineering—and her findings have implications for fields ranging from entertainment robotics to emergency response, where untrained groups must quickly adapt to robotic agents.