Jens Schulz

Technical University of Munich, University of Hertfordshire

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Jens Schulz is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, human-robot interaction (HRI), and child-computer interaction. His most influential contribution, "On the Utility of Model Learning in HRI" (2019, 11 citations), tackles a fundamental debate in robotics: whether robots should build explicit models of their environment—including human partners—or rely on model-free learning. Schulz argues that in HRI, treating the human as a black box can be insufficient, advocating instead for structured model-based approaches that enhance robot adaptability and social intelligence. This work has shaped discussions on how robots can better understand and predict human behavior. Earlier, Schulz contributed to child-robot interaction with "Exploring the design space of robots: Children’s perspectives" (2006), a study that examined how children perceive and engage with robot designs, later issuing a corrigendum in 2007. Though his citation counts are modest, Schulz’s research is conceptually rich, bridging machine learning theory with practical HRI challenges. His work is particularly valuable for students and researchers interested in the cognitive foundations of interactive robotics, offering a thoughtful counterpoint to purely data-driven approaches.