Sarah Whatley
Papers
1
Total Citations
3
H-Index
1
About
Sarah Whatley is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of dance, somatic practice, and human-robot interaction. Her work redefines safety in robotics through an embodied, artistic lens, challenging traditional engineering paradigms by centering human experience and physical intuition. In her most-cited paper, "Somatic Safety: An Embodied Approach Towards Safe Human-Robot Interaction" (2025, 3 citations), Whatley reports on a groundbreaking collaboration where dancers used contact improvisation exercises to explore how robots can safely navigate physical contact in unstructured, human-centered environments. This work reframes safety not as mere avoidance of harm, but as a dynamic, felt experience—a vital contribution as robots increasingly enter homes, hospitals, and public spaces. Whatley’s interdisciplinary approach bridges performance art and robotics, offering a novel methodology for designing machines that can coexist with humans in intimate, unpredictable settings. Her research has been recognized for its creativity and impact, influencing both artistic practice and engineering design. For students and researchers, Whatley’s work is a compelling call to integrate somatic wisdom into technology, showing that the future of safe human-robot interaction may be choreographed, not just coded.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1