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About

R. van den Brule is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and trust dynamics, with a particular focus on how robot behavior shapes human trust and reliance. Their work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of trust in autonomous systems, especially in high-stakes domains like healthcare. Van den Brule’s most influential paper, “Do Robot Performance and Behavioral Style affect Human Trust?” (114 citations), established a foundational framework for how robot reliability and expressive cues jointly influence user trust. This was complemented by their highly cited defense of trust in medical AI, “Intentional machines: A defence of trust in medical artificial intelligence” (57 citations), which argues that trust is a rational and necessary strategy for managing risk in doctor–patient-AI relationships. Van den Brule also pioneered research on nonverbal warning signals, showing that robots can proactively communicate performance limitations to improve interaction outcomes (17 citations). Their early work on evolving robot control structures through interleaved simulation and physical environments (7 citations) demonstrates a long-standing commitment to robust, real-world robot design. Van den Brule’s research is essential reading for anyone studying trust, transparency, and ethical design in human-robot systems.