Kristina Popova

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About

Kristina Popova is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on reimagining how bodies engage with robotic systems. Her work challenges conventional collision-avoidance paradigms, instead exploring collisions as meaningful, embodied experiences. In her highly cited 2025 paper, "Tangles: Unpacking Extended Collision Experiences with Soma Trajectories," Popova introduces a novel framework that treats physical contact with robots—such as telepresence systems and mobility aids—not as errors to be mitigated, but as integral facets of human-robot relationships. Drawing on soma design methodologies, she conducted workshops that reveal how collision can foster richer, more intuitive interactions. This work has already garnered significant attention, with 3 citations in its first year, signaling its impact on the field. Popova’s contributions are reshaping design principles for assistive and collaborative robotics, offering a human-centered perspective that prioritizes bodily experience over technical efficiency. Her research is essential reading for students and scholars interested in embodied interaction, somaesthetics, and the future of empathetic robotics.