Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Maxime Caniot is a robotics researcher whose work centers on developing socially intelligent human-robot interaction for real-world public spaces. His most significant contribution comes from the EU-funded MuMMER project, where he helped create a social robot capable of natural, flexible engagement with users in environments like shopping malls. This system integrates audio-visual sensing and social signal processing to enable fluid, context-aware interactions—a key step toward making robots welcome in everyday human settings. With 17 citations, this work demonstrates clear impact in the field of social robotics. Caniot also explored the psychological and symbolic factors that shape people’s first encounters with humanoid robots, shedding light on user acceptance and trust. Additionally, he developed qiBullet, a Bullet-based simulator for the widely used Pepper and NAO robots, providing researchers with a powerful tool for prototyping and testing without needing physical hardware. This simulator has become a valuable resource in academic and commercial settings alike. Caniot’s contributions bridge technical development and human-centered design, advancing the practical deployment of socially aware robots.