Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Selma Wanna is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and artificial intelligence, with a focus on making robotic systems more adaptable, intuitive, and collaborative. Her work centers on developing modular frameworks and leveraging large language models (LLMs) to bridge the gap between human intent and robotic execution. Wanna’s most significant contribution is the **Unified Meaning Representation Format (UMRF)** (2022, 11 citations), a task description formalism that enables rapid reconfiguration of HRI systems—a critical tool for dynamic environments like manufacturing. Building on this, her 2024 study on **LLM-driven task planning** (9 citations) exposed critical limitations in current Embodied AI systems, particularly their failure to handle underrepresented use-cases, and proposed prompting strategies to unlock broader applicability. Wanna also leads efforts in **Industry 5.0 collaboration**, notably collecting a human-robot assembly dataset in glovebox environments (2 citations), which provides real-time safety and coordination benchmarks for hazardous settings. Her work has been recognized for its practical impact on modular system design and inclusive AI planning, positioning her as a key voice in the next generation of human-centered robotics.