Katrine Tjoelsen

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About

Katrine Tjoelsen is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, architecture, and human-centered design. Her work fundamentally challenges the traditional paradigm of robot adaptation, instead advocating for the proactive design of social spaces that accommodate robotic inhabitants. Tjoelsen’s most influential contribution is the conceptualization and design of the "Robot Inclusive Space (RIS) Challenge," a cross-disciplinary initiative detailed in her highly cited 2015 paper (19 citations). This framework compels roboticists, architects, and designers to collaborate on creating built environments that are inherently robot-friendly, rather than forcing machines to navigate spaces designed exclusively for humans. By shifting the focus from robot adaptation to spatial inclusion, Tjoelsen has laid the groundwork for a more seamless integration of assistive and service robots into everyday life. Her work is a cornerstone for researchers exploring human-robot interaction in real-world settings, and it has inspired new curricula in design schools. Tjoelsen’s vision is not just technical; it is a profound rethinking of how we build our world for a future shared with intelligent machines.