Josh Finkle

Papers

Total Citations

155

H-Index

About

Josh Finkle is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI) and service robotics, best known for his foundational work on long-term, real-world robot deployments. His landmark paper, "The Snackbot" (2009), with 155 citations, introduced a robot designed to deliver snacks in university buildings, serving as both a practical service and a critical research platform. This work, developed over 24 months, documented the iterative design process and the challenges of sustaining user engagement over time, establishing a blueprint for studying how people interact with robots in everyday environments. Finkle’s contributions have shaped the field by emphasizing the importance of longitudinal studies, moving beyond short-term lab experiments to understand genuine human-robot relationships. His research has influenced subsequent work in social robotics, autonomous navigation, and user-centered design, making him a key figure in advancing robots as integrated, helpful members of shared spaces.