Christopher Thompson
Papers
2
Total Citations
38
H-Index
2
About
Christopher Thompson is a leading researcher in socially assistive robotics and human-robot interaction, with a focus on designing robots that improve quality of life in real-world settings. His work bridges cognitive stimulation for older adults and autonomous navigation in complex environments. Thompson’s landmark study, “The robot Tangy facilitating Trivia games” (2017, 26 citations), introduced a novel team-based cognitive intervention for long-term care residents, moving beyond traditional one-on-one robot interactions to foster social engagement and mental stimulation. This work demonstrated how robots like Tangy can autonomously facilitate group activities, enhancing both cognitive health and social connectedness among older adults. In parallel, Thompson’s 2021 paper “A Robot Architecture Using ContextSLAM to Find Products in Unknown Crowded Retail Environments” (12 citations) tackles the challenge of autonomous navigation in dynamic, cluttered spaces. By developing ContextSLAM, he enabled robots to locate specific products in busy grocery stores, addressing a critical need for assistive technology in retail. Thompson’s contributions are notable for their practical impact, combining rigorous engineering with user-centered design to create robots that serve vulnerable populations and everyday consumers alike.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2