Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Xiaohua Sun is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), intelligent vehicle design, and end-user programming. Their work fundamentally reimagines how non-experts can intuitively communicate with and control autonomous systems—from smart cockpits to service robots. Sun’s most cited paper, “From HMI to HRI: Human-Vehicle Interaction Design for Smart Cockpit” (2018, 18 citations), established a foundational framework for transitioning traditional human-machine interfaces into adaptive, human-robot partnerships within vehicles. They have since advanced this vision through groundbreaking contributions: developing “Cocobo” (2024, 5 citations), which leverages large language models to enable everyday users to program service robots using natural language, and “GenComUI” (2025, 4 citations), which dynamically generates visual aids like map annotations to enhance task-oriented robot communication. Sun also explores tangible interfaces, such as smart textile leggings for posture monitoring (2023, 5 citations), and co-design methods using virtual reality for service robot applications. Their work on knowledge graph visualization for non-expert users (2021, 9 citations) further democratizes robot interaction. With a growing citation footprint and a clear trajectory toward making autonomous systems accessible, Sun is shaping the future of human-centered AI.