Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Kaname Hayashi is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, educational technology, and affective computing. Their work fundamentally explores how robots can form meaningful, emotionally resonant relationships with humans—particularly children and companion robot owners. Hayashi’s most influential contribution is the development of an educational application for the Pepper robot, which integrated the concepts of care-receiving robot (CRR) and total physical response (TPR) to facilitate learning through interaction. This landmark 2015 paper has garnered 177 citations, establishing a foundational framework for using social robots in education. More recently, Hayashi has advanced the science of human-robot bonding through groundbreaking work with the companion robot LOVOT, including a 2023 study demonstrating that higher oxytocin concentrations occur in individuals who build affiliative relationships with robots—providing rare neurobiological evidence for robot-mediated attachment. Their ongoing research, including objective evaluation indicators from robot activity logs, continues to shape how we measure and understand owner attachment to companion robots. Hayashi’s work bridges robotics, psychology, and education, offering compelling evidence that robots can serve as genuine partners in human emotional and cognitive development.