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About

Megan A. Bayles is a human factors and human-robot interaction researcher whose work centers on the design, evaluation, and acceptance of assistive robotic technologies for older adults. Her research addresses one of the most pressing challenges in an aging society: how robots can meaningfully support independence and aging in place while remaining trustworthy and user-centered. Bayles's most influential contribution, "Maximizing the Benefits of Participatory Design for Human–Robot Interaction Research With Older Adults" (2021), has garnered 79 citations and established best practices for involving older adults as active collaborators in robot design—rather than passive subjects. This work has become a key reference for HRI researchers navigating inclusive design methodology. Her complementary investigations into domestic robot design recommendations, robot sociability and trust, and older adults' perceptions of robot appearance and function collectively advance understanding of how form, function, and social behavior shape technology acceptance among aging populations. Her human factors analysis of the Stretch mobile manipulator further demonstrates her applied approach, bridging laboratory research and real-world deployment. Across her body of work, Bayles has emerged as a thoughtful advocate for centering older adults' autonomy, preferences, and lived experience in the development of robotic assistive technologies.