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About

Nigel Crook is a leading researcher at the intersection of robotics, human-robot interaction (HRI), and ethical AI. His work explores how robots can engage in natural, socially-aware collaboration with humans—from studying the influence of upper body pose mirroring on conversation perception to developing leader-follower strategies for effective robot-human teamwork. Crook’s contributions are both technical and philosophical: he has designed biologically inspired robotic systems, such as a humanoid neck actuated by pneumatic artificial muscles that mimics human movement, and has advanced the understanding of ethical AI through models like VirtuosA, a virtue ethics framework grounded in theological and neuroscientific principles. His most cited work, “Human-Robot Interaction” (2020), has garnered 42 citations, reflecting its foundational role in the field. Crook also addresses pressing ethical challenges, including the risks of robots autonomously generating novel goals and the need for a developmental roadmap from social interaction to ethical AI. Through this blend of engineering innovation and moral inquiry, Crook is shaping a future where robots are not only capable collaborators but also ethically responsible agents.