Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Sue Cobb is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and special education, with a focus on understanding why advanced technologies often fail in real-world, high-stakes environments. Her most cited work, "Robots in special education: reasons for low uptake" (2019, 12 citations), critically examines the gap between robotic potential and classroom reality, identifying systemic barriers through both literature analysis and direct teacher interviews. This foundational paper has become essential reading for researchers designing assistive technologies. Cobb's recent work expands into the nuanced challenges of communication breakdowns. Her 2023 workshop report on "troubles and failures in conversation between humans and robots" (6 citations) brings together roboticists and dialogue system experts to study miscommunication from complementary perspectives. In 2024, she published "Performance metrics outperform physiological indicators in robotic teleoperation workload assessment" (5 citations), offering practical insights for complex scenarios like nuclear waste management and disaster response. Cobb's research is distinguished by its interdisciplinary rigor and its focus on the human factors that determine whether robotic systems succeed or fail in practice.