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About

Francesca Sacchitelli is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, specializing in the design of social robots that foster long-term engagement with children. Her work centers on using multi-activity switching and motivational strategies to sustain young users’ interest, a critical challenge in child-robot interaction. Her most cited paper, "Towards Long-Term Social Child-Robot Interaction" (101 citations), demonstrates how dynamic activity transitions can keep children engaged over extended periods, laying the groundwork for robots in learning and behavioral support. Sacchitelli’s contributions extend to health applications, notably in diabetes self-management. Through studies at diabetes camps in Italy and the Netherlands, she explored how social robots can encourage healthy habits and elicit personal disclosure, achieving 30 and 29 citations for related works. Her co-design of the PAL robot and avatar, which performs joint activities with children, exemplifies her commitment to user-centered design. By integrating cultural sensitivity and relational verbal behaviors, Sacchitelli has advanced robots that not only interact but build trust, making her a pivotal figure in creating empathetic, effective robotic companions for vulnerable populations.