Anne Wierling

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Anne Wierling is a leading voice in the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of robotics, with a focused expertise in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). Her work critically examines how social robots are developed and deployed, challenging the field’s tendency toward “silo mentality” in research. Wierling’s most-cited paper, “Ethical, Legal & Participatory Concerns in the Development of Human-Robot Interaction” (2022, 13 citations), pioneers a framework for integrating participatory methods and legal foresight into HRI design, ensuring that stakeholder voices shape technological outcomes. Her earlier foundational work, “Categorizing Social Robots with Respect to Dimensions Relevant to Ethical, Social and Legal Implications” (2020, 8 citations), provides a novel taxonomy that moves beyond superficial robot classifications. By identifying four key dimensions for ethical evaluation, she equips researchers and policymakers to avoid reductive assessments and instead address nuanced societal impacts. Though her citation counts are still growing, Wierling’s contributions are already shaping responsible innovation in robotics, making her a vital resource for students and scholars seeking to align technological progress with human values. Her research stands as a call to action for more inclusive, legally-aware, and ethically-grounded engineering.