Maher Hanafi

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Maher Hanafi is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), art, and engineering, best known for his work on lighter-than-air robotic systems and public engagement with technology. His most notable contribution is the "floating head experiment" (2011), a landmark HRI-artistic public experiment conducted at the UsineC theater in Montreal on October 26, 2010. This project emerged from a months-long collaboration with the [VOILES | SAILS] research-creation platform, which focuses on self-assembling intelligent lighter-than-air structures. Though the paper has garnered 2 citations, its true impact lies in its innovative fusion of robotics and performance art, challenging conventional boundaries between technology and human experience. Hanafi’s work exemplifies how robotic systems can serve as expressive, interactive mediums in public spaces, influencing subsequent research in social robotics and artistic robotics. His contributions highlight the potential of interdisciplinary approaches to advance both technical and cultural dimensions of robotics, making him a notable figure in the emerging field of robotic art and public HRI.