Emi Tsuburaya

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dr. Emi Tsuburaya is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, specializing in the subtle mechanics of non-verbal communication between humans and machines. Her work focuses on how robotic design—particularly the eyes and gaze behaviors—can be engineered to intuitively guide, engage, and control human attention. In her foundational 2011 paper, "An Empirical Framework to Control Human Attention by Robot" (16 citations), she established a systematic method for robots to direct human focus, a critical capability for collaborative and service robotics. Her most impactful contribution, "Designing robot eyes for communicating gaze" (2013, 11 citations), explores the principle that robot eyes must not only "see" but also "show" gaze, enabling essential social cues like eye contact and joint attention. This work bridges cognitive science and mechanical design, arguing that effective robotic gaze is as vital as its functional vision. While her citation counts reflect a focused, emerging field, Tsuburaya’s insights are foundational for creating socially adept robots capable of seamless, trust-building interaction—a key step toward robots that feel less like tools and more like partners.