Christopher Miller

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Northwestern University, Pennsylvania State University, Georgetown University

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About

Christopher Miller is a researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and assistive robotics, whose work focuses on how humans and autonomous systems can collaborate more effectively. His primary research areas include dynamic autonomy allocation—the process of shifting control between humans and robots based on context—and task characterization for human-robot teams. In his most cited work, "Formalized Task Characterization for Human-Robot Autonomy Allocation" (12 citations), Miller proposed a groundbreaking framework to uncover the underlying mechanisms affecting perceived task difficulty, a critical gap in the field. He further advanced this line of inquiry in "An Analysis of Human-Robot Information Streams to Inform Dynamic Autonomy Allocation" (6 citations), investigating which factors—such as environmental safety or user preference—should drive real-time control shifts. Miller has also applied his technical expertise to assistive technology, developing an extended Kalman filter approach for on-line estimation of wheelchair tire slip (4 citations), addressing dangerous scenarios on low-friction surfaces. His work on tele-robotic interface design for satellite servicing demonstrates the breadth of his impact, from Earth-bound assistive devices to orbital robotics. Miller’s contributions are shaping how we design intelligent, adaptive systems that work seamlessly with human operators.