J. Muthugala

Singapore University of Technology and Design, University of Moratuwa

Papers

Total Citations

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About

J. Muthugala is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and service robotics, with a particular focus on proxemics—the study of personal space in human-robot encounters. His work addresses a critical challenge in domestic and service robotics: how robots can navigate and approach humans in ways that feel comfortable and natural. In his highly cited 2019 study (21 citations), Muthugala explored how the attributes of service robots—such as size, appearance, and behavior—affect human proxemic preferences, providing foundational insights for designing socially aware robots. His 2018 paper (18 citations) extended this work into domestic environments, evaluating how robots can assess user behavior to optimize approach strategies. More recently, Muthugala has applied his expertise to specialized domains, developing an adhesion risk assessment system for aircraft inspection robots (2022), demonstrating his versatility in addressing safety and operational challenges in industrial robotics. His research bridges social robotics and practical engineering, offering actionable guidelines for creating robots that respect human spatial boundaries while performing complex tasks. With a growing citation impact, Muthugala’s contributions are shaping the next generation of intuitive, user-friendly service robots.