Laurel Anderson
Papers
2
Total Citations
157
H-Index
2
About
Laurel Anderson is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, with a specific focus on socially assistive robotics for pediatric healthcare. Her work addresses the critical gap in socio-emotional support for hospitalized children, who often experience significant stress, anxiety, and pain. Anderson’s major contribution is the design and validation of the "Huggable" robot, a socially assistive platform intended to provide comfort and playful interaction in clinical settings. Her foundational 2015 paper on this design, cited 46 times, outlines the robot's development with a deep understanding of the emotional vulnerability of young patients. The impact of this work is powerfully demonstrated by her most-cited paper, "A Social Robot to Mitigate Stress, Anxiety, and Pain in Hospital Pediatric Care" (111 citations), which provides compelling evidence that robotic companions can effectively alleviate distress in pediatric care. Through this research, Anderson has not only advanced the field of social robotics but has also pioneered a tangible, compassionate tool to improve the hospital experience for children and their families, bridging the gap between human resource limitations and the need for continuous emotional support.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1A Social Robot to Mitigate Stress, Anxiety, and Pain in Hospital Pediatric Care111 citations · 2015
- 2Designing a socially assistive robot for pediatric care46 citations · 2015