Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Jacobe Klein is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on how design and behavior shape user perception and social acceptance of robots. Klein’s work explores the psychological and physical dynamics of human-robot relationships, particularly in close-proximity scenarios. Their most cited paper, “Feeling with a robot—the role of anthropomorphism by design and the tendency to anthropomorphize in human-robot interaction” (2023, 29 citations), challenges conventional assumptions about empathy toward robots by examining how anthropomorphic features influence user responses in realistic, everyday interactions rather than extreme tasks. This work has reshaped understanding of robot design ethics and user engagement. Klein also investigates spatial behavior in “The Influence of Distance and Lateral Offset of Follow Me Robots on User Perception” (2020, 19 citations), demonstrating how robot proxemics—distance and positioning—affect comfort and trust. Their research, including “Let’s Not Get Too Personal – Distance Regulation for Follow Me Robots” (2020), provides foundational insights for designing socially acceptable robots in public and domestic settings. With a growing citation impact, Klein’s contributions are vital for engineers and psychologists developing robots that integrate seamlessly into human environments.