Papers
66
Total Citations
1,569
H-Index
22
About
Massimiliano Zecca is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of humanoid robotics, human-robot interaction, and biomedical engineering. Best known for his groundbreaking contributions to emotion-expressive humanoid robots, Zecca has helped shape how machines communicate and connect with humans. His development of robots such as WE-4RII and KOBIAN — platforms capable of conveying human-like emotions through facial expressions, hand gestures, and whole-body movement — has garnered significant academic attention, with key papers accumulating over 130 citations each. His 2010 fMRI study, cited 141 times, revealed that humans engage distinct neural processes when perceiving emotional gestures from robots versus other humans, bridging robotics with neuroscience in a compelling way. Zecca has also explored critical societal questions, including cross-cultural acceptance of robots and the "uncanny valley" phenomenon, reflecting his commitment to real-world deployment of robot companions for aging populations. Beyond humanoid systems, his research extends to prosthetic hand design and surgical ergonomics, demonstrating remarkable breadth. With a cumulative body of work exceeding 800 citations across his top papers alone, Zecca stands as a highly influential figure in socially assistive and biomedical robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2Effective emotional expressions with emotion expression humanoid robot WE-4RII136 citations · 2005
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- 10Development of whole-body emotion expression humanoid robot48 citations · 2008