Michael J. Gonzales

University of Notre Dame, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Michael J. Gonzales is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on enabling fluent collaboration between people and autonomous systems. His work bridges the gap between low-level robot control and high-level human behavior, particularly in dynamic, co-located environments. A key contribution is his event-based model for joint action perception, which allows multiple robots to automatically measure and synchronize with moving humans—a foundational step for seamless teamwork in settings like manufacturing or healthcare. This work, published in 2015, has garnered 24 citations and remains a touchstone for researchers tackling real-time HRI. Gonzales has also advanced assistive robotics, providing design guidelines for user interfaces that make robot manipulation systems more accessible to individuals with disabilities; his 2021 paper on this topic has earned 14 citations. Earlier, he explored socially assistive robots for medication adherence, addressing a critical public health challenge linked to over 125,000 annual deaths in the U.S. His research on mobile robots and marching humans further demonstrates his commitment to studying synchronized, motion-based interaction. Through these contributions, Gonzales has shaped how robots perceive and respond to human teammates, improving both safety and efficiency in collaborative tasks.