Mutlu

About

Bilge Mutlu is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), focusing on how robots can communicate and collaborate effectively with people through social and nonverbal cues. His work explores the design of persuasive robots, demonstrating how vocal tone and body language can influence human behavior, as seen in his highly cited 2012 paper (148 citations). Mutlu’s research on proxemics reveals how robots can manage physical and psychological distance to enhance comfort and trust, while his studies on gaze cues show how robots shape participant roles in conversations. He also investigates nonverbal leakage—how robots can intentionally signal unintended behaviors to build rapport—and examines the integration of robots into organizational workflows, considering social and environmental factors. His contributions extend to practical tools like the Robot Behavior Toolkit, which generates effective social behaviors. With over 394 citations across his most-cited works, Mutlu’s insights are foundational for creating robots that are not only functional but also socially adept, advancing HRI from labs into real-world settings.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Designing persuasive robots: How robots might persuade people using vocal and nonverbal cues

   148 citations · 2012
2. 2
   Human-robot proxemics: Physical and psychological distancing in human-robot interaction

   68 citations · 2011
3. 3
   Footing in human-robot conversations: How robots might shape participant roles using gaze cues

   65 citations · 2009
4. 4
   Nonverbal leakage in robots: Communication of intentions through seemingly unintentional behavior

   53 citations · 2009
5. 5
   Robots in organizations: The role of workflow, social, and environmental factors in human-robot interaction

   41 citations · 2008
6. 6
   Robot behavior toolkit: Generating effective social behaviors for robots

   19 citations · 2012

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links