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About

Fritz Frenkler is a design researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-machine interaction, emotional design, and the future of autonomous mobility. His scholarship focuses on how thoughtful design can bridge the psychological and social gaps created when machines replace human contact in public environments — a challenge that grows increasingly urgent as autonomous vehicles and service robots reshape everyday life. Frenkler's most cited work (2018, 28 citations) pioneered the application of personas and emotional design principles to public service robots, using autonomous public transport as a compelling case study. This contribution established a framework for thinking about how robots can carry human-like qualities to ease passenger anxiety and build trust. Subsequent research expanded this foundation through immersive virtual reality methodologies, exploring how varying robot designs influence human compliance and emotional response in transit contexts (2022, 19 citations). His collaborative work in Singapore further examined user perceptions of contrasting companion concepts — biomimetic versus non-biomimetic — within shared autonomous mobility scenarios. Collectively, Frenkler's research offers designers and engineers evidence-based guidance for creating machines that feel approachable, trustworthy, and emotionally resonant, making him a notable voice in the rapidly evolving conversation around human-centered autonomous systems.