Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Fang-Wu Tung is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, child development, and assistive technology. Her work fundamentally explores how people—especially children and the elderly—perceive and engage with social robots, with a strong emphasis on designing robots that are both appealing and functionally supportive. Tung’s most influential study, “Child Perception of Humanoid Robot Appearance and Behavior” (2016, 111 citations), systematically examined how 578 children aged 8–14 react to robots with varying levels of anthropomorphism, revealing critical insights into how appearance and movement shape trust and engagement. Her earlier work on gender and age differences in children’s attitudes toward humanoid robots (2011, 65 citations) further established foundational knowledge in developmental robotics. Tung has also made notable contributions to therapeutic robotics, demonstrating how robots can assist and induce social interaction in children with autism (2013, 29 citations). More recently, she has extended her expertise to aging populations, producing design guidelines for social-assistive robots for the elderly (2020). Through rigorous empirical studies and mixed-method reviews, Tung’s research provides actionable frameworks for creating robots that are not only technically capable but also socially and emotionally attuned to their users.