Stacey Cunningham

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Stacey Cunningham is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focused expertise on spatial communication in robotic surgery. Her work addresses a critical challenge in modern medicine: as surgical robots enable greater precision, they also isolate the surgeon from the operating team, disrupting vital non-verbal and spatial cues. In her most cited paper, "Spatial Communication in Robotic Surgery" (2012, 5 citations), Cunningham systematically analyzed how the physical separation between surgeon and team impairs collaborative communication during minimally invasive procedures. Building on this, her follow-up work, "Design of a Spatial Aid for Communication in Robotic Surgery" (2012, 2 citations), proposed innovative solutions to restore these lost spatial interactions. Though her citation counts are modest, her contributions are foundational in an emerging niche, laying the groundwork for designing more intuitive, team-aware robotic systems. Cunningham’s research is notable for bridging cognitive science, engineering, and clinical practice, offering actionable insights for improving safety and teamwork in the operating room. Her work remains essential reading for students and engineers developing next-generation surgical interfaces.