Mohammad Obaid

About

Mohammad Obaid is a prominent researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), social robotics, and human-computer interaction. His research explores how humans relate to, communicate with, and are influenced by robotic and autonomous systems, spanning topics from proxemics and body gestures to cultural influences on robot behavior and the role of science fiction in shaping public perceptions of AI. Among his most influential contributions is his quantitative investigation of reciprocity in human-robot interaction using game theory frameworks, which has garnered 148 citations, alongside a widely recognized overview of engagement in human-agent interaction (143 citations) that has become a key reference for interface designers and HCI researchers alike. His early work on cultural influences on proxemic behaviors (2013) and user-defined gesture controls (2012) helped establish foundational design principles for humanoid robots. Obaid has also expanded the field into emerging domains, including human-drone interaction, with his "Social Drone Companion" paper (61 citations) opening new avenues for domestic autonomous systems. Thoughtful and interdisciplinary in approach, Obaid consistently bridges technical design with humanistic inquiry, evidenced by his reflections on science fiction's role in computing literature and provocative questions about whether robots can make us better humans — a body of work that continues to inspire both researchers and students worldwide.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Reciprocity in Human-Robot Interaction: A Quantitative Approach Through the Prisoner’s Dilemma and the Ultimatum Game

   148 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Engagement in Human-Agent Interaction: An Overview

   143 citations · 2020
3. 3
   Investigating the influence of culture on proxemic behaviors for humanoid robots

   67 citations · 2013
4. 4
   Social Drone Companion for the Home Environment

   61 citations · 2017
5. 5
   Human Robot Interaction and Fiction: A Contradiction

   59 citations · 2014
6. 6
   Stop! That is close enough. How body postures influence human-robot proximity

   58 citations · 2016
7. 7
   User-Defined Body Gestures for Navigational Control of a Humanoid Robot

   43 citations · 2012
8. 8
   Reflecting on the Presence of Science Fiction Robots in Computing Literature

   42 citations · 2019
9. 9
   Comparing a humanoid tutor to a human tutor delivering an instructional task to children

   42 citations · 2014
10. 10
    Can Robots Make us Better Humans?

    41 citations · 2020

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links