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About

Yadong Pan is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), social robotics, and assistive technologies. His key research areas include understanding how people react to robots in public spaces—such as hotels—and developing robotic systems that can sense and respond to human social behaviors, particularly for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Pan’s most cited work, “On the Reaction to Robot’s Speech in a Hotel Public Space” (77 citations), explores how bystanders and direct users perceive robot speech in real-world settings, offering foundational insights into designing robots that integrate seamlessly into crowded, dynamic environments. He has also made notable contributions to assistive robotics, designing vision-based systems that automatically measure facial interaction and smile behavior in children with ASD (papers with 14 and 10 citations). These systems aim to automate robot behavior during therapy, addressing the challenge of sensing subtle social cues. Pan’s comparative studies on direct versus indirect robot interactions—such as overhearing versus engaging in conversation—further illuminate how social context shapes human attitudes toward robots. His work bridges technical innovation and social application, advancing both the theory and practice of socially aware robotics.