Papers
5
Total Citations
105
H-Index
4
About
Iris Smeekens is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and autism therapy, specializing in how robotic systems can be designed to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her work focuses on two key areas: the impact of robot embodiment and behavior on therapeutic outcomes, and the development of semi-autonomous robots for personalized intervention. Smeekens’ most influential study, with 57 citations, demonstrated that a robot’s intonation and bodily appearance significantly affect the effectiveness of robot-mediated communication treatment for children with ASD, challenging assumptions about robot design in therapy. She pioneered the integration of Pivotal Response Training (PRT) into robot-assisted game activities, using an iterative, participatory design process that bridges robotics and clinical expertise. Her research on semi-autonomous robots (15 citations) showed how to balance robot autonomy with researcher control, enabling more natural and effective interactions. Smeekens also explored personalizing educational gameplay with robot partners and comparing robots with varying autonomy levels in educational settings. Her work has been instrumental in establishing evidence-based guidelines for robot-assisted autism therapy, directly informing how robots can be tailored to individual children’s needs.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3The effect of a semi-autonomous robot on children15 citations · 2016
- 4Personalizing Educational Game Play with a Robot Partner9 citations · 2016
- 5