Denis Burnham

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Denis Burnham’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, wearable robotics, and the psychology of attachment to artificial agents. His most cited work, “C’Mon dude!” (2015, 21 citations), demonstrates how users dynamically adapt their social behavior to a robotic agent equipped with an attention model, revealing that even subtle cues of awareness can shape human engagement. This contribution is pivotal for designing robots that feel more natural and responsive in shared spaces. Burnham also explores the emotional bonds people form with robots through the “Adopt-a-Robot” studies (2013, 9 and 2 citations), which investigate attachment—or its absence—in domestic settings, highlighting the challenges of fostering long-term relationships with machines as they become more common in homes and offices. Additionally, his work on wearable robotics (2011, 8 citations) with the Wearable Indoor Tracking Unit (WITU) addresses comfort and context in navigation aids for complex environments like search and rescue or museum guidance. By blending behavioral science with engineering, Burnham’s research offers critical insights into how humans perceive, adapt to, and bond with robotic systems, informing the design of more intuitive and socially aware technologies.