Joseph La Delfa

Monash University, RMIT University, Stockholm University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

102

H-Index

About

Joseph La Delfa is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), robotics, and somaesthetic design, with a particular focus on reimagining how humans relate to drones. His most influential contribution is the creation of *Drone Chi*, a Tai Chi-inspired, close-range human-drone interaction that applies somaesthetics—a philosophy centered on improving life quality through bodily and sensory awareness—to drone technology. This work, which has garnered 78 citations, demonstrates how drones can move beyond functional tools to become partners in mindful, embodied experiences. La Delfa further pushes conceptual boundaries with his exploration of the *umwelt* as a design metaphor, as seen in his 2024 paper "How to Train Your Drone," which uses an organism’s perceptual world to inform more intuitive, somatic interactions. His technical contributions include structuring simulation components in Gazebo for robotics scenarios, and he is currently investigating how unstructured natural language feedback can be used to correct robot policies, as shown in his 2025 study. By blending philosophy, design, and robotics, La Delfa is shaping a future where technology is not just used, but felt.