Luke Hespanhol
Papers
11
Total Citations
173
H-Index
8
About
Luke Hespanhol is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, urban computing, and human-robot interaction, whose work fundamentally explores how technology integrates with and transforms public space. His research spans three interconnected domains: the design of expressive urban robots, non-digital and hybrid public displays, and research-through-design methodologies applied to emerging technologies. Hespanhol has made notable contributions to understanding how autonomous vehicles and non-humanoid robots can communicate emotions to pedestrians — a critical challenge as robotics becomes increasingly embedded in city life. His work on emotionally expressive interfaces, including the widely discussed "My Eyes Speak" project and studies on robotic emotional expression, addresses the urgent question of social acceptance in urban robotics. His whimsical yet rigorous "Woodie" robot, which draws chalk art in public spaces, exemplifies his creative approach to blending physicality with digital interaction. Methodologically, he has championed research-through-design and annotated portfolios as legitimate epistemic tools in HRI and HCI communities. With his most cited paper accumulating 36 citations and a body of work totalling over 170 citations, Hespanhol's scholarship offers students and researchers a thoughtful, design-led framework for imagining more expressive, human-centered urban futures.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Stop and Smell the Chalk Flowers36 citations · 2020
- 2Research through Design Approaches in Human-Robot Interaction31 citations · 2021
- 3
- 4Emotional expressions of non-humanoid urban robots22 citations · 2020
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- 7Self-moving robots and pulverized urban displays11 citations · 2019
- 8Augmenting Remote Interviews through Virtual Experience Prototypes8 citations · 2020
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- 10Woodie. An Urban Robot for Embodied Hybrid Placemaking4 citations · 2020