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About the labs

The Communication and Social Robotics Labs are a cross-institutional research collaborative advancing human-machine communication (HMC): how people create meaning with and about robots, AI agents, and other technologies that function as communicators. Drawing on communication theory, social robotics, artificial intelligence, and related fields, we examine how perception shapes these interactions.

Our goal is ethical, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent technology that improves everyday interaction between people and machines. We envision robots that support education, crisis response, care, and companionship, and communities empowered through responsible innovation and collaboration.

Read about our lab philosophy in the Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Research areas

Human-machine communication theory development
How people and intelligent systems understand and respond to each other.
Family
Robots in the home: bonding, communication, emotional support, and connection across generations.
Robots in the classroom
Engagement, learning outcomes, and communication in educational settings.
Voice and robotic operating systems
Voice interfaces and robotic operating systems that support natural communication and system integration.
Privacy
Ethics, data protection, and trust in social and personal robot use.
Crisis situations
Reliable, responsive systems that support communication, safety, and decisions during emergencies.