Arielle F Maignan

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About

Arielle F. Maignan is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, neurodiversity, and animal-companion robotics. Her work focuses on how robot dogs can serve as therapeutic and social tools for neurodivergent individuals, including those on the autism spectrum. In her highly cited 2024 study, "Emotion-Behavior Interplay in Human Animal-Robot Interaction (HARI)," she systematically compared the emotional and behavioral responses of neurotypical and neurodivergent participants interacting with a robotic dog, revealing distinct patterns of engagement that inform future design. Her follow-up paper, "Co-designing Robot Dogs with and for Neurodivergent Individuals," directly involved neurodivergent stakeholders in the design process, uncovering underexplored daily-life use cases—from emotional regulation to social companionship. With over 5 citations across her early-career publications, Maignan’s work is already shaping inclusive robotics. Notably, she champions participatory design, ensuring that technology is not merely *for* neurodivergent people but *with* them. Her research promises to bridge gaps in assistive technology, making social robots more responsive, ethical, and genuinely beneficial for diverse cognitive and emotional experiences.