Social robotics research explores the impact of design on human trust

New research is examining how the design and social expressiveness of robots influence human trust and emotional engagement.

Investigators at Drexel University studied the impact of humanoid social expressiveness, such as eye contact and gestures, on human interaction. Using the semi-humanoid robot Pepper, researchers found that while high expressiveness can increase engagement, it may also create a fragility in trust. When an expressive robot makes a mistake, users may perceive the error as a social violation rather than a technical failure, affecting brain activity and oxytocin levels.

Complementary research from the University of Glasgow is exploring how aesthetic designs, including animal-like or anime-style features, can optimize emotional appeal. Using augmented reality to test various faces and voices on the Qoobo robot, researchers aim to move beyond guesswork to systematically design zoomorphic robots that can provide companionship and mitigate loneliness.