Stuart Cunningham

Tufts University, University of Sheffield

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Stuart Cunningham’s research sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction, surgical robotics, and domestic assistive technologies. His most impactful work, “Effects of Experience and Workplace Culture in Human-Robot Team Interaction in Robotic Surgery: A Case Study” (37 citations), offers a rare, real-world glimpse into how surgeons collaborate with robotic systems in the operating theatre. By examining the influence of experience and workplace culture, Cunningham highlights that successful human-robot teamwork depends as much on social dynamics as on technical design. He also played a key role in the EU-funded SERA (Social Engagement with Robots and Agents) project, which investigated how robots and agents can build long-term, meaningful relationships with users. In “Describing the Interactive Domestic Robot Setup for the SERA Project,” he documented a ten-day in-home deployment of a social robot, capturing rich audio-visual data on evolving human-robot bonds. His earlier work on “Rabbitic” user interfaces further explored how companion-like robots can serve as persistent, sociable interfaces to smart environments. Through these contributions, Cunningham has advanced our understanding of how robots can be integrated into both high-stakes surgical teams and everyday domestic life.