Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Sonia Brondi is a leading researcher in the social psychology of human-robot interaction, focusing on how people conceptualize, represent, and evaluate social robots. Her work bridges social representations theory and cultural psychology to examine the dynamic relationship between expert and lay knowledge about emerging technologies. Brondi’s most influential paper, “How many facets does a ‘social robot’ have?” (114 citations), critically reviews scientific and popular definitions of social robots, revealing how these competing frameworks shape public expectations. She further explores how attitudes toward robots are formed in daily life, as shown in her 2021 study (56 citations), and investigates youth conceptualizations of robots as cultural objects, introducing the novel idea of “dynamicity” as a sixth dimension of cultural potency. Her contributions are notable for grounding robotics in social science, demonstrating that robots are not merely technical artifacts but socially constructed entities. Brondi’s work is essential for students and researchers seeking to understand the societal implications of robotics, offering a human-centered perspective that challenges purely technical narratives.