The aim of this research area is to understand the characteristics of human-robot interaction – with particular attention to this type of interaction during development – ​​in relation to the development of Theory of Mind, decision-making skills, trust and educational implications

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Our research on social robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) adopts a life-span approach, that is, it considers human-robot interactions (HRI) in different phases of the life cycle, from early childhood to old age. The aim is to understand how people interact with robotic artefacts in various contexts – from the domestic, to the school and educational, to rehabilitation and care – and with different types of robots.

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The theoretical principles underlying our work guide the research in two main directions: the identification of the different modes of human-robot interaction in the different developmental phases and the variation of such interactions as a function of the type of robot used and the application contexts.

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The life-span approach also directs research towards the implementation of artificial cognitive models (AI) for interactions between robots and humans and between robots and other robotic agents. The leitmotif of our studies is human-centeredness: the human being is at the center not only of research aimed at discovering the mechanisms and psychological processes that regulate these new forms of interaction, but also with respect to the applications of robots, where technological development and innovation start from the values, needs and beliefs of individuals and communities.

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Thanks to a wide network of collaborations at national and international level, our research places particular emphasis on the cultural specificities and diversities that enrich the understanding of human-robot interaction and on the considerations related to the implementation of interaction programs that respect these diversities.