Papers
39
Total Citations
1,214
H-Index
16
About
Mari Velonaki is a pioneering researcher whose work spans the intersection of robotics, human-robot interaction (HRI), and artificial sensing technologies. Best known for her groundbreaking contributions to sensitive robotic skin, Velonaki has helped redefine how robots perceive and respond to physical touch. Her highly cited reviews on artificial skin and tactile sensing (209 citations) and Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) for robotic skin (180 citations) established foundational frameworks for the field, while her experimental work on interpreting touch modalities on EIT-based sensitive arms demonstrated real-world applicability with striking results. Beyond tactile sensing, Velonaki has made substantial contributions to the psychology and design of human-robot interaction. Her research on the Form Function Attribution Bias (77 citations) illuminates how robot appearance shapes human expectations — a crucial insight for ethical and effective robot design. Her cross-cultural studies comparing human responses to android, humanoid, and non-biomimetic robots across Japan and Australia reveal the nuanced cultural dimensions of HRI. With her thought-provoking question "Can Robots Make us Better Humans?" (2020), Velonaki continues to push HRI discourse into philosophical territory, cementing her reputation as a researcher who bridges engineering innovation with profound humanistic inquiry.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Artificial skin and tactile sensing for socially interactive robots: A review209 citations · 2014
- 2Electrical Impedance Tomography for Artificial Sensitive Robotic Skin: A Review180 citations · 2014
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- 4FFAB—The Form Function Attribution Bias in Human–Robot Interaction77 citations · 2018
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- 8Touch modality interpretation for an EIT-based sensitive skin46 citations · 2011
- 9Can Robots Make us Better Humans?41 citations · 2020
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