Takayuki Uratani
Papers
1
Total Citations
54
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Takayuki Uratani’s research lies at the compelling intersection of human-robot interaction, child psychology, and robot ethics. He is best known for his pioneering field study, “Why Do Children Abuse Robots?” (2015, 54 citations), which uncovered a troubling yet fascinating phenomenon: children in public spaces sometimes verbally and physically abuse social robots. By observing children in a shopping mall hallway, Uratani documented behaviors ranging from verbal insults to kicking and punching, challenging assumptions about how young users perceive robotic agents. His work raises critical questions about robot design, child development, and the moral status of machines. Beyond this landmark study, Uratani continues to explore how social robots are perceived and treated in uncontrolled, real-world environments. His research has profound implications for designing robots that can withstand or de-escalate abuse, and for understanding how children’s social and moral reasoning extends to non-human entities. With growing interest in deploying robots in schools, homes, and public spaces, Uratani’s insights are more relevant than ever—forcing engineers, ethicists, and educators to rethink how we prepare both robots and children for their inevitable interactions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Why Do Children Abuse Robots?54 citations · 2015