Erin Dooley

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Erin Dooley is an emerging researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, health technology, and qualitative research methods. Her work explores how individuals form intimate, long-term relationships with autonomous systems, with a particular focus on soft robotics designed for sleep and wellness interventions. Dooley’s most-cited paper, "Autoethnography of Living with a Sleep Robot" (2024, 2 citations), offers a deeply personal, first-person account of cohabiting with a soft robotic sleep aid. By applying autoethnography—a method rarely used in robotics—she reveals the emotional, psychological, and behavioral nuances of trusting a machine during vulnerable states like sleep. This work challenges conventional clinical evaluations of soft robots, which often prioritize technical performance over lived experience. Dooley’s contribution lies in bridging the gap between engineering and the humanities, arguing that for soft robots to succeed in real-world clinical settings—such as improving sleep quality—designers must account for users’ subjective, often messy, daily realities. Her research signals a critical shift toward patient-centered design in healthcare robotics, making her a compelling voice for students and researchers interested in the human side of technology.