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About

Alberto Sardinha is a leading researcher at the intersection of artificial intelligence, multi-agent systems, and human-robot interaction. His work is distinguished by a focus on enabling robots to collaborate effectively with humans in dynamic, unscripted environments. A major contribution is his pioneering research on **ad hoc teamwork**, where he develops algorithms that allow a robot to join a team of unknown human or robotic agents and collaborate without any prior coordination. His papers "Helping People on the Fly" and "HOTSPOT" (totaling 10 citations) lay the foundational theory and platform for this emerging field, promising more flexible and robust human-robot teams. Sardinha is also a key figure in socially assistive robotics. His highly cited work, "Project INSIDE" (45 citations), explores the use of autonomous robots for semi-structured social interaction in autism therapy, demonstrating a tangible, real-world application of his AI principles. Earlier, his research on "Migration Between Two Embodiments of an Artificial Pet" (12 citations) investigated the novel concept of an agent’s consciousness moving between different robotic bodies, a foundational study in robot identity and continuity. Through this blend of foundational theory and impactful application, Sardinha is shaping a future where robots are not just tools, but true, adaptive teammates.