Vella Verónica Somoza Sánchez
Papers
1
Total Citations
11
H-Index
1
About
Vella Verónica Somoza Sánchez is a researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and social robotics, with a focus on designing more intuitive and socially acceptable autonomous systems. Her work explores how robots can communicate non-verbally—through gaze, proximity, and body language—to reduce discomfort and foster trust in human-robot encounters. In her most-cited paper, “I Would Like to Get Close to You”: Making Robot Personal Space Invasion Less Intrusive with a Social Gaze Cue (2018, 11 citations), she demonstrates that a simple gaze cue can significantly mitigate the perceived intrusiveness of a robot entering a person’s personal space, a foundational insight for developing socially aware robots in shared environments. This contribution is particularly impactful for applications in healthcare, service robotics, and collaborative workplaces. Somoza Sánchez’s work stands out for its empirical rigor and practical relevance, bridging psychological theory and robotic design. Her research continues to shape how robots are programmed to respect human social norms, making them more approachable and effective partners in daily life.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1