Brenna Chen
Papers
1
Total Citations
36
H-Index
1
About
Brenna Chen’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, design theory, and cognitive engineering, with a focus on how the physical form of robots shapes user expectations and adoption. Her most cited work, “Design Metaphors for Understanding User Expectations of Socially Interactive Robot Embodiments” (2022, 36 citations), introduces a groundbreaking framework for analyzing how a robot’s appearance—from anthropomorphic to mechanical—triggers implicit assumptions about its social and functional capabilities. Chen demonstrates that when design metaphors align with actual robot performance, users are more likely to trust and integrate these technologies into collaborative settings. Her contributions are particularly impactful in the emerging field of socially assistive robotics, where mismatched expectations can hinder real-world deployment. By bridging industrial design with empirical user studies, Chen provides actionable guidelines for engineers and designers to create robots that communicate their abilities transparently. Her work has been recognized for its practical relevance, influencing both academic discourse and industry prototyping. With a growing citation trajectory, Chen is shaping how we think about the silent promises embedded in every robot’s shell.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1