Tingyi Zhang

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tingyi Zhang is a researcher dedicated to enhancing human connection through robotics, with a primary focus on telepresence systems for early childhood interaction. Her key research areas include human-robot interaction, assistive robotics, and child-robot communication. Zhang’s major contribution is the development of ChiCaRo, a telepresence robot designed to bridge the gap between remote caregivers—such as grandparents—and babies or toddlers in an era of increasing nuclear families. Unlike conventional telepresence systems, ChiCaRo features a small, safe hand and mobility to physically engage young children, maintaining their attention and enabling playful remote interaction. Her foundational work, including the 2018 paper “ChiCaRo: Tele-presence Robot for Interacting with Babies and Toddlers” (32 citations), demonstrates the robot’s effectiveness through field trials in playroom settings. Zhang’s research addresses a critical societal need, offering a novel solution to foster intergenerational bonds despite physical distance. Her iterative design process, from early prototypes (2015) to refined implementations, highlights her commitment to safety and child-centric engineering. With growing citation impact, Tingyi Zhang is recognized for pioneering compassionate robotics that enrich early childhood development and family connectivity.