Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Ehud Sharlin is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), whose work sits at the compelling intersection of social psychology, tangible interfaces, and robot design. Based on his highly cited body of work, Sharlin has dedicated his career to making robots more socially acceptable, intuitive, and emotionally resonant for everyday users. His most influential contributions include foundational studies on evaluating HRI methodologies (231 citations) and applying social psychology insights to domestic robotics (261 citations), work that has shaped how researchers think about robot acceptance in real-world environments. Sharlin has also pioneered novel interaction paradigms, from tangible user interfaces for robot control (113 citations) to dog-leash-inspired locomotion interfaces and collocated interaction with flying drones (110 citations). His concept of "robot expressionism through cartooning" offers a creative lens for intuitive social signaling, while his investigations into proxemics, personal space, abstract motion, and social greetings reflect a deep commitment to grounding HRI in established human behavioral science. With hundreds of cumulative citations across diverse HRI topics, Sharlin's research has meaningfully advanced our understanding of how humans and robots can coexist naturally, making him an essential voice in the field for students and researchers alike.