Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Zerrin Kasap’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, affective computing, and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on creating long-term, emotionally intelligent relationships between humans and virtual or robotic characters. Her most influential work, "Building long-term relationships with virtual and robotic characters: the role of remembering" (53 citations), establishes memory—specifically episodic memory—as a cornerstone for sustained social engagement. In her highly cited follow-up, "Towards episodic memory-based long-term affective interaction with a human-like robot" (36 citations), Kasap addresses the critical challenge of enabling robots to recall past events during conversation, arguing that this capability is essential for natural, ongoing interaction. By integrating multimodal dialogue management with skin-based robot heads and virtual humans, her contributions bridge the gap between technical memory systems and believable social behavior. Kasap’s work has been instrumental in shaping how researchers design robots that not only respond in the moment but remember and build upon shared histories, paving the way for companions that feel genuinely present and attentive over time.