Cailyn Smith

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Dr. Cailyn Smith is a leading voice in the emerging field of space robotics and human-robot interaction (HRI), with a specific focus on how autonomy is perceived and implemented in aerospace contexts. Her research critically examines the "Level of Autonomy" (LoA) in safety-critical space missions, addressing the unique challenges of operating robots in unknown, high-stakes environments where human control is often compromised. Dr. Smith’s major contributions include pioneering the development of the **Robot Autonomy Perception Scale (RAPS)** , a novel framework designed to measure how humans perceive a robot’s autonomy—a crucial distinction from measuring human autonomy. Her work, including her most-cited papers (each garnering 2 citations in 2024), reveals that experts in space robotics hold nuanced views on when a robot should "take the joystick," balancing safety with operational efficiency. By bridging the gap between technical capability and human trust, Dr. Smith’s research lays the groundwork for designing semi-autonomous robots that are both reliable and intuitive for astronauts and ground operators. Her insights are vital for the future of space sustainability and exploration, ensuring that as robots become more prevalent, they do so with the appropriate level of human oversight.