Papers
11
Total Citations
98
H-Index
6
About
Yuya Onishi is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction and embodied communication, whose work bridges the gap between physical and virtual social presence. His primary research areas include robotic social touch, telepresence systems, and the design of socially aware robots for real-world applications. Onishi’s most impactful contribution is the development of robots that enhance social telepresence through physical embodiment—such as the Moffuly-II, a hug robot capable of head-rubbing gestures, and the PopArm, a robotic arm that clarifies pointing in videoconferencing. His work on robotic salespersons, demonstrating that acting aware of visitors’ attention strengthens social presence, has garnered significant attention, with papers accumulating over 20 and 19 citations respectively. Notably, his 2025 study on robot presence influencing pain perception opens new frontiers in healthcare robotics. Onishi’s research consistently explores how physical contact and perceptual ability in robots can foster deeper human connections, making him a leading figure in creating robots that are not just tools, but socially engaging companions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Embodiment of Video-mediated Communication Enhances Social Telepresence20 citations · 2016
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- 3Moffuly-II: A Robot that Hugs and Rubs Heads17 citations · 2023
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- 7PopArm: A robot arm for embodying video-mediated pointing behaviors4 citations · 2014
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- 10Designing a Robot which Touches the User's Head with Intra-Hug Gestures3 citations · 2023