Heather M. Sanders

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Heather M. Sanders is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on tele-operated mobile robotics and the cognitive challenges faced by remote operators. Her work bridges robotics, human factors, and control systems, exploring how time lags—whether from communication delays or computational bottlenecks—affect operator performance and perception. In her most-cited paper (2017, 27 citations), she developed a rule-based system to assist tele-operators in driving mobile robots, demonstrating how intelligent decision-support can mitigate the effects of latency. Her 2016 study (16 citations) systematically investigated how motion lag impacts an operator’s ability to complete tasks, revealing critical insights into the relationship between system delays and user trust. By quantifying these effects, Sanders has provided foundational knowledge for designing more resilient tele-operation systems. Her work is particularly relevant for applications in remote exploration, disaster response, and autonomous vehicle control. With a growing citation impact, Sanders continues to shape how we understand and improve the human-robot partnership in time-sensitive, distance-critical environments.