Papers
10
Total Citations
571
H-Index
7
About
Eric Deng is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of social robotics, assistive technology, and human-robot interaction. His research has made substantial contributions to two primary areas: the theoretical foundations of embodiment in socially interactive robots and the practical application of socially assistive robotics (SAR) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Deng's most influential work, "Embodiment in Socially Interactive Robots" (2019), has accumulated nearly 300 citations across two versions, establishing him as a key voice in defining when and why physical embodiment matters in social robot design. Equally impactful is his pioneering research on long-term, in-home deployment of SAR for children with ASD — a critical advancement beyond the short-term, lab-controlled studies that dominated the field. His longitudinal studies, including a month-long home case study (2018, 37 citations) and personalization frameworks (2019, 133 citations), demonstrate both scientific rigor and genuine concern for real-world accessibility of therapy. Deng has also explored soft robotics, contributing a novel 3D-printed robotic hand actuated by coiled shape-memory alloys (2020, 54 citations), showcasing impressive breadth. For students entering human-robot interaction or assistive technology, his work offers both foundational theory and meaningful, human-centered application.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Embodiment in Socially Interactive Robots215 citations · 2019
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- 3Embodiment in Socially Interactive Robots81 citations · 2019
- 4A Soft 3D-Printed Robotic Hand Actuated by Coiled SMA54 citations · 2020
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- 8Mime-Inspired Behaviors in Minimal Social Robots2 citations · 2017
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