David Silvera Tawil

Papers

Total Citations

161

H-Index

About

David Silvera Tawil is a researcher whose work sits at the compelling intersection of robotics, human-robot interaction, and tactile sensing technology. His research has focused on developing sophisticated artificial skin systems that enable robots to interpret and respond to human touch in socially meaningful ways — a capability fundamental to the future of intuitive human-robot interaction. Silvera Tawil's most significant contributions center on the application of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) to create flexible, sensitive robotic skin. His landmark 2012 paper on touch modality interpretation for an EIT-based sensitive skin on an artificial arm has garnered 99 citations, establishing him as a key contributor in this specialized field. Building on earlier foundational work — including a 2011 study with 46 citations and a 2009 investigation into optimized EIT drive patterns with 16 citations — he developed a progressive body of research demonstrating how robots can distinguish between different types of tactile stimuli during social interaction. What makes his work particularly impactful is its dual focus on both the engineering challenge of creating thin, flexible, and stretchable conductive materials and the higher-level problem of meaningful touch interpretation, bridging hardware innovation with human behavioral understanding. His research remains essential reading for anyone working in social robotics or tactile sensing.