Pericle Salvini

About

Pericle Salvini is a prominent researcher at the intersection of robotics, law, ethics, and human-robot interaction, whose work has fundamentally shaped how societies conceptualize the deployment of autonomous systems in public life. With contributions spanning nearly two decades, Salvini has established himself as a leading voice in robot safety, social acceptability, and regulatory frameworks. His most influential work examines the legal and ethical challenges posed by robots entering professional and private environments, including the landmark paper on regulatory dilemmas in robotics (200 citations) and his contributions to the European RoboLaw framework. Salvini's research on how people behave around robots in real-world urban settings—most memorably documented through a behavioral study in South Korea that captured instances of robot "bullying" (143 citations)—has provided invaluable empirical grounding for safety and design standards. Notably, his interdisciplinary reach extends into neuroscience, with neuroimaging research exploring how human brains distinguish agency and animacy when viewing robotic versus human faces (117 citations). His DustCart garbage-collection robot demonstrated practical urban robotics in action, while his work on teacher training highlights a commitment to robotics education. Collectively, his publications have garnered nearly 1,000 citations, cementing his influence across robotics research and policy.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Regulatory challenges of robotics: some guidelines for addressing legal and ethical issues

   200 citations · 2017
2. 2
   How safe are service robots in urban environments? Bullying a robot

   143 citations · 2010
3. 3
   Design for Acceptability: Improving Robots’ Coexistence in Human Society

   129 citations · 2010
4. 4
   Distinct Neural Systems Involved in Agency and Animacy Detection

   117 citations · 2010
5. 5
   RoboLaw: Towards a European framework for robotics regulation

   62 citations · 2016
6. 6
   Safety Concerns Emerging from Robots Navigating in Crowded Pedestrian Areas

   61 citations · 2021
7. 7
   An Investigation on Legal Regulations for Robot Deployment in Urban Areas: A Focus on Italian Law

   60 citations · 2010
8. 8
   DustCart, an autonomous robot for door-to-door garbage collection: From DustBot project to the experimentation in the small town of Peccioli

   56 citations · 2011
9. 9
   Design and Impact of a Teacher Training Course, and Attitude Change Concerning Educational Robotics

   50 citations · 2018
10. 10
    On the Safety of Mobile Robots Serving in Public Spaces

    49 citations · 2021

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links