Michael L. Walters
Papers
72
Total Citations
5,212
H-Index
37
About
Michael L. Walters is a pioneering researcher in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), whose work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of how humans perceive, relate to, and physically interact with robotic systems. Based at the University of Hertfordshire, Walters has made landmark contributions to robot companion design, proxemics in HRI, and robot appearance and behavior. His most influential work explores what people actually want from a robot companion — friend, assistant, or butler — garnering over 530 citations and establishing a human-centred framework that continues to guide social robotics research. His investigations into personal spatial zones revealed that human personality traits meaningfully influence comfortable approach distances with robots, a finding with profound implications for robot navigation design. Walters also played a central role in developing KASPAR, a minimally expressive humanoid robot now widely used in autism research and HRI studies, accumulating over 400 combined citations across related publications. Beyond design, Walters has rigorously examined HRI methodology itself, comparing live and video-based experimental approaches to ensure research validity. With a cumulative citation count exceeding 2,700, his body of work represents an essential foundation for anyone studying social robotics, robot companions, or the psychological dimensions of human-robot relationships.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1What is a robot companion - friend, assistant or butler?530 citations · 2005
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- 3How may I serve you?340 citations · 2006
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