Ashley Colley
Papers
2
Total Citations
114
H-Index
2
About
Dr. Ashley Colley is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, automotive user interfaces, and social robotics. Her work fundamentally addresses how people perceive and trust emerging technologies, from autonomous vehicles to humanoid robots. Colley’s most impactful contribution lies in pedestrian safety for automated driving. Her highly cited 2019 study (112 citations) pioneered the use of virtual reality to investigate how external car displays (ECDs) influence pedestrians’ crossing behavior and decision-making time, providing critical design guidelines for vehicle-to-pedestrian communication. This work is foundational for building trust and safety in mixed-traffic environments. More recently, Colley has ventured into social robotics, exploring how robot facial expressions affect emotional alignment in real-time service interactions. Her 2025 study, using the advanced Ameca robot, examines the nuanced role of congruent versus incongruent facial expressions in voice-based conversations. By bridging the gap between technical functionality and human perception, Colley’s research directly shapes the design of safer, more intuitive, and emotionally resonant autonomous systems.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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