Amal Nanavati
University of Washington, Carnegie Mellon University, Seattle University
Papers
14
Total Citations
174
H-Index
8
About
Amal Nanavati is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of assistive technology, human-robot interaction, and autonomous systems. With a focus on improving independence and quality of life for people with disabilities, Nanavati has made meaningful contributions across two primary domains: robot-assisted feeding and navigation assistance for people who are blind or have low vision. Nanavati's most cited work includes a systematic review of physically assistive robots (35 citations) and foundational design principles for robot-assisted feeding in social contexts (33 citations), establishing both a comprehensive landscape of the field and a human-centered framework for future systems. The development of an adaptable, portable robot-assisted feeding system (19 citations) translates this research into real-world impact for wheelchair users. Complementing this, Nanavati's coupled navigation research — modeling how humans follow guide robots in indoor environments — has shaped how autonomous systems adapt to human movement dynamics, earning recognition across multiple publications totaling nearly 40 citations combined. Beyond physical assistance, Nanavati has explored how robots can learn social interaction behaviors from human data and intelligently request help from bystanders. Collectively, with over 160 citations across a decade of research, Nanavati represents an emerging voice in socially aware, human-centered assistive robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Design Principles for Robot-Assisted Feeding in Social Contexts33 citations · 2023
- 3Coupled Indoor Navigation for People Who Are Blind20 citations · 2018
- 4An Adaptable, Safe, and Portable Robot-Assisted Feeding System19 citations · 2024
- 5Follow The Robot: Modeling Coupled Human-Robot Dyads During Navigation16 citations · 2019
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