Josh de Leeuw

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About

Josh de Leeuw is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of bioinspired robotics and human-robot interaction. His work fundamentally explores how mechanical design and movement influence both biological understanding and human perception. A key contribution is his development of the MARMT platform (mobile autonomous robot for mechanical testing), a biomimetic surface-swimmer used to test how vertebral structures control body stiffness and swimming behavior in fish-like robots. This work, published in 2011 and cited 47 times, exemplifies his approach of using robots as physical models to test biological hypotheses. More recently, de Leeuw has investigated the social implications of non-humanoid robot movement, showing in a 2020 study (40 citations) that the motion patterns of non-humanoid robots significantly affect human emotional perceptions and trust. This research bridges engineering and psychology, demonstrating that even robots without human-like forms can elicit meaningful social responses. By combining rigorous mechanical testing with insights into human-robot trust, de Leeuw’s work is shaping how we design robots that are both functionally effective and socially acceptable.