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About

Mauricio Reyes explores the intersection of human-robot interaction, affective computing, and socially assistive robotics. His research centers on how robots can effectively communicate emotions—particularly negative ones like anger—to improve collaboration and task performance in shared environments. In his most-cited work (37 citations), Reyes demonstrates that robotic facial expressions of anger can serve a functional role in human-robot teams, triggering diagnostic processes in human partners that enhance coordination during ambiguous or high-stakes tasks. He further investigates the counterintuitive value of negative feedback in interaction, showing that well-timed expressions of disapproval can positively influence human behavior. Reyes also addresses the practical deployment of service robots, developing cognitive architectures that integrate opportunistic inference with emotional expression for more natural, responsive interactions. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, he has contributed important considerations for designing medical robots in post-pandemic healthcare settings. His work offers valuable insights for researchers developing robots that must navigate complex social dynamics, proving that emotional authenticity—even negative emotions—can be a strategic asset in building effective human-robot partnerships.