Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Fanpan Zeng is a researcher specializing in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a particular focus on the psychological dimensions of robot acceptance and personality dynamics. Their work addresses a critical challenge in robotics: understanding why humans accept or reject robotic collaborators, and what role personality — both human and robotic — plays in shaping these outcomes. Zeng's most influential contribution, a 2021 meta-analysis examining human personality as a predictor of robot acceptance, has garnered 76 citations, synthesizing previously mixed findings across the HRI literature into coherent, actionable insights. Building on this foundation, their 2022 meta-analysis shifted focus to robot personality, exploring how a robot's perceived character influences human acceptance — accumulating 25 citations. Perhaps most intriguingly, Zeng has investigated personality matching between humans and robots, asking whether similarity in personality traits fosters greater collaboration and acceptance. Collectively, Zeng's body of work employs rigorous meta-analytic methods to bring clarity to a fragmented research landscape, making meaningful contributions to both HRI theory and the practical design of socially acceptable robots. Their research is increasingly essential reading for scholars and engineers working at the intersection of psychology, robotics, and human-centered design.