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About

Timo Dankert is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), specializing in the nuanced dynamics of real-world, group-based interactions. His work centers on how robots can autonomously initiate, maintain, and repair social interactions with humans, particularly in public spaces like museums. Dankert’s major contributions include pioneering the study of interactional "openings"—identifying the precise, coordinated moments when a robot should approach a visitor, a challenge he explored in a museum guide scenario (51 citations). He has also advanced the field by examining how robots can detect and repair communication breakdowns, such as when a visitor fails to follow a deictic reference (pointing gesture), and by analyzing the group dynamics that emerge when a robot makes an unexpected move. His research, grounded in video corpus analysis and a combined qualitative-quantitative approach, has garnered over 90 citations, with his most influential paper providing foundational insights for designing socially aware robots. Dankert’s work is notable for its real-world field trials, moving beyond lab settings to study authentic, multi-party interactions that include both children and adults.