Robert Faulkner

Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Robert Faulkner is a pioneering researcher in social robotics and human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on endowing robots with tactile and social-touch perception. His most-cited work, "Endowing a NAO Robot With Practical Social-Touch Perception" (2022, 18 citations), introduces a novel, cost-effective approach to augmenting existing rigid-bodied robots with external touch-sensing capabilities—a critical step toward making socially assistive robots more responsive and intuitive in everyday human environments. Rather than designing entirely new hardware, Faulkner’s work demonstrates how to retrofit platforms like the NAO robot with practical touch perception, enabling them to detect and respond to physical social cues. This contribution addresses a fundamental gap in the field: while social touch is essential to human interaction, most robots lack the ability to perceive it. Faulkner’s research has implications for assistive technologies, therapy, and education, where robots must interact safely and naturally with people. His work is recognized for its pragmatic, scalable approach to advancing robot social intelligence, making him a notable voice in the growing intersection of robotics, haptics, and human-centered design.