Elizabeth Pellicano
Papers
6
Total Citations
149
H-Index
5
About
Elizabeth Pellicano is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of autism, education, and human-robot interaction. Her work fundamentally explores how social robots can support autistic learners, particularly those who are minimally verbal or face challenges with emotional expression. In her highly cited 2019 study (70 citations), Pellicano captured educators’ perspectives on using humanoid robots in special education settings in England, revealing both enthusiasm and critical concerns about implementation. She has since designed innovative robot-based interventions, including a face-mirroring game to engage autistic children with emotional expressions and a teacher-teleoperated robot-and-tablet system for minimally verbal children, tested across the UK and Serbia. Pellicano’s research emphasizes predictability in robot behavior as key to fostering engagement, while also addressing practical usability—such as realistic facial expressions and voice activity detection for emotion recognition. Her work has garnered over 150 citations, reflecting its impact on both assistive technology design and inclusive education practices. By centering the voices of educators and the unique characteristics of autistic children, Pellicano is shaping a future where technology adapts to neurodiversity rather than the other way around.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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