Nicola Leonardi

Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell'Informazione "Alessandro Faedo"

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Nicola Leonardi is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and end-user development, with a primary focus on making advanced robotic systems accessible to non-programmers. His most influential work centers on trigger-action programming as a paradigm for personalising humanoid robot behaviour, a contribution that has garnered 73 citations and fundamentally challenged the notion that robot programming requires expert knowledge. By demonstrating how intuitive, rule-based interfaces can empower everyday users to customise what humanoid robots sense and do, Leonardi has opened new possibilities for deploying robots in homes, schools, and public spaces. His research addresses a critical bottleneck in robotics adoption: the gap between sophisticated robotic capabilities and the technical skills of potential users. Beyond his flagship paper, Leonardi continues to explore how visual programming and natural language interfaces can further democratise humanoid robot control. His work is particularly notable for bridging theoretical frameworks in human-computer interaction with practical, deployable systems, making him a key figure in the movement toward truly personalisable social robots.