Jilly Jiaqi Cai

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Jilly Jiaqi Cai is a researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and cross-cultural design, with a focus on making assistive robotics more responsive to diverse human needs. Her work explores how cultural background shapes user preferences and perceptions of non-humanoid, multi-robot systems in home environments—a critical yet underexplored area in HRI. In her highly cited paper, "How Many Robots Do You Want?" (2021, 4 citations), Cai conducted a cross-cultural study revealing that user expectations for robot teams vary significantly across cultures, challenging one-size-fits-all design approaches. She also contributed to socially relevant robotics during the COVID-19 pandemic through "Alice in Bookland" (2021, 2 citations), a project that deployed interactive robots to safely maintain children's reading experiences in public libraries during lockdowns. This work highlights her commitment to applying HRI in real-world, community-serving contexts. Cai’s research is notable for its early focus on cultural diversity in multi-robot interactions, laying groundwork for more inclusive, user-centered robotic systems. Her contributions are especially valuable for students and researchers interested in culturally-aware design, assistive technology, and the social implications of robotics.