Papers
182
Total Citations
7,568
H-Index
43
About
Tony Belpaeme is a pioneering researcher in social robotics, human-robot interaction, and child-robot interaction, whose work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of how robots can meaningfully engage with humans — particularly children. His most celebrated contribution, a 2018 review on social robots in education (1,445 citations), established a comprehensive framework demonstrating that robots can serve as effective tutors and peer learners, achieving outcomes comparable to human tutoring through the unique power of physical presence. Building on this, his classroom-based studies showed that personalisation and adaptive behaviour in robot peers measurably improve children's learning outcomes. Belpaeme's research extends into fascinating psychological territory, including a landmark 2018 study revealing that children — unlike adults — conform to peer pressure exerted by robots, raising important ethical questions about deploying social robots with young audiences. His co-authored introductory textbook on human-robot interaction (2020) has become a foundational resource for the field. Earlier work in developmental robotics explored how embodied agents can illuminate cognitive development and language acquisition. With over 3,100 citations across his top papers alone, Belpaeme's interdisciplinary contributions bridge robotics, education, psychology, and cognitive science, making him one of the most influential voices in social robotics today.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Social robots for education: A review1,445 citations · 2018
- 2The Robot Who Tried Too Hard229 citations · 2015
- 3Multimodal Child-Robot Interaction: Building Social Bonds206 citations · 2013
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- 5Human-Robot Interaction201 citations · 2020
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- 9Guidelines for Designing Social Robots as Second Language Tutors160 citations · 2018
- 10Child-Robot Interaction: Perspectives and Challenges159 citations · 2013