[iva] *New Issue* ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction 14(2)

[young at cs.umanitoba.ca]

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ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction
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We are pleased to announce the publication of Volume 14, Issue 2, June 2025.
https://dl.acm.org/toc/thri/2025/14/2


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SECTION: Regular Papers
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Development of a Robotic Device that Performs Head Bunting to Relieve User Tension
Yuga Adachi, Fumihide Tanaka
Abstract: Inspired by an animal behavior called bunting, in which the animal rubs its head against other objects, including humans, we developed robotic prototypes capable of performing such bunting behaviors. Since physical contact plays an important role in ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3700600.

A Human–Security Robot Interaction Literature Review
Xin Ye, Lionel P. Robert
Abstract: As advances in robotics continue, security robots are increasingly integrated into public and private security, enhancing protection in locations such as streets, parks, and shopping malls. To be effective, security robots must interact with civilians and ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3700888.

Online Correction of Task Registration and Robot Models from User Input
Thibault Poignonec, Florent Nageotte, Nabil Zemiti, Bernard Bayle
Abstract: In application domains such as surgical robotics, fully autonomous control remains a long-term ambition and the systems are mostly teleoperated. In this article, the presence of an operator in-the-loop is exploited to perform the online registration of ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3702246.

The Journey or the Destination: The Impact of Transparency and Goal Attainment on Trust in Human-Robot Teams
Esther S. Kox, Juul van den Boogaard, Vesa Turjaka, José H. Kerstholt
Abstract: As robots gain autonomy, human-robot task delegation can become more goal-oriented; specifying what to do rather than how. This can lead to unexpected robot behaviour. We investigated the effect of transparency and outcome on the perceived trustworthiness ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3702245.

Teleoperated Communication Robot: A Law Enforcement Perspective
Roya Salehzadeh, Fareed Bordbar, Xiaoti Fan, Soroush Korivand, Glen Merritt, Darrin J. Griffin, Christian Cousin, Nader Jalili
Abstract: The goal of this article is to investigate the use of communication robots as tools to increase the safety of first responders (specifically, law enforcement officers (LEOs)) during social interactions or first-response situations. This article functions ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3697842.

What If I’m Wrong? Team Performance and Trustworthiness When Modeling Risk-Sensitivity in Human–Robot Collaboration
Mason O. Smith, Wenlong Zhang
Abstract: To achieve effective coordination in human–robot teams, robots must have an accurate model of human decision-making (i.e., theory of mind) to predict human actions and plan appropriate supplemental strategies. However, humans are often assumed to be ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706068.

Service Robot Morality in Customer–Robot Interactions: A Mixed-Methods Study
Mona Mareen Kegel, Ruth Maria Stock-Homburg, Tuure Tuunanen
Abstract: The increasing human–robot interactions across service domains require an examination of their moral challenges, particularly from the user’s perspective. This study explores how efficiency and morality intersect in deploying service robots during the ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706067.

Human Prior Knowledge Estimation from Movement Cues for Information-Based Control of Mobile Robots during Search
Rafal Krzysiak, Sachit Butail
Abstract: Robotic search often involves teleoperating vehicles into unknown environments. In such scenarios, prior knowledge of target location or environmental map may be a viable resource to tap into and control other autonomous robots in the vicinity towards an ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706065.

Meet the Motivational Robot That Predicts Your Future Feelings
Rui Chen, Takashi Minato, Kurima Sakai, Takayuki Kanda
Abstract: This study explores the potential benefits of robots having the capability to anticipate people’s mental states in an exercise context. We designed 80 utterances for a robot with associated gestures that exhibit a range of emotional characteristics and ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3707466.

Influence of Robots’ Voice Naturalness on Trust and Compliance
Dennis Becker, Lukas Braach, Lennart Clasmeier, Teresa Kaufmann, Oskar Ong, Kyra Ahrens, Connor Gäde, Erik Strahl, Di Fu, Stefan Wermter
Abstract: With the increasing performance of text-to-speech systems and their generated voices indistinguishable from natural human speech, the use of these systems for robots raises ethical and safety concerns. A robot with a natural voice could increase trust, ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706066.

A Systematic Review of Trust Assessments in Human–Robot Interaction
Giulio Campagna, Matthias Rehm
Abstract: The integration of robots into daily life has increased significantly, spanning applications from social-care to industrial settings with collaborative robots. Ensuring a safe, secure environment and equitable workload distribution in human-robot ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706123.

Ommie: The Design and Development of a Social Robot for Anxiety Reduction
Kayla Matheus, Marynel Vázquez, Brian Scassellati
Abstract: This article discusses the design, development, and evaluation of Ommie, a novel socially assistive robot that supports deep breathing practices for the purposes of anxiety reduction. Research has shown that practicing deep breathing (breathing while ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706122.

A Machine Learning Approach to Resolving Conflicts in Physical Human–Robot Interaction
Enes Ulas Dincer, Zaid Al-Saadi, Yahya M. Hamad, Yusuf Aydin, Ayse Kucukyilmaz, Cagatay Basdogan
Abstract: As artificial intelligence techniques become more sophisticated, we anticipate that robots collaborating with humans will develop their own intentions, leading to potential conflicts in interaction. This development calls for advanced conflict resolution ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706029.

The Effect of Voice and Repair Strategy on Trust Formation and Repair in Human-Robot Interaction
Marta Romeo, Ilaria Torre, Sébastien Le Maguer, Alexander Sleat, Angelo Cangelosi, Iolanda Leite
Abstract: Trust is essential for social interactions, including those between humans and social artificial agents, such as robots. Several factors and combinations thereof can contribute to the formation of trust and, importantly in the case of machines that work ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3711938.

Participant Perceptions of a Robotic Coach Conducting Positive Psychology Exercises: A Qualitative Analysis
Minja Axelsson, Nikhil Churamani, Atahan Çaldır, Hatice Gunes
Abstract: This article presents a qualitative analysis of participants’ perceptions of a robotic coach conducting Positive Psychology exercises, providing insights for the future design of robotic coaches. Participants \((n=20)\) took part in a single-session (...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3711937.

From Novice to Skilled: RL-Based Shared Autonomy Communicating with Pilots in UAV Multi-Task Missions
Kal Backman, Dana Kulić, Hoam Chung
Abstract: Multi-task missions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) involving inspection and landing tasks are challenging for novice pilots due to the difficulties associated with depth perception and the control interface. We propose a shared autonomy system, ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3712712.

VITA: A Multi-Modal LLM-Based System for Longitudinal, Autonomous and Adaptive Robotic Mental Well-Being Coaching
Micol Spitale, Minja Axelsson, Hatice Gunes
Abstract: Recently, several works have explored if and how robotic coaches can promote and maintain mental well-being in different settings. However, findings from these studies revealed that these robotic coaches are not ready to be used and deployed in real-...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3712265.

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SECTION: Survey Papers
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Principles and Guidelines for Evaluating Social Robot Navigation Algorithms
Anthony Francis, Claudia Pérez-D’Arpino, Chengshu Li, Fei Xia, Alexandre Alahi, Rachid Alami, Aniket Bera, Abhijat Biswas, Joydeep Biswas, Rohan Chandra, Hao-Tien Lewis Chiang, Michael Everett, Sehoon Ha, Justin Hart, Jonathan P. How, Haresh Karnan, Tsang-Wei Edward Lee, Luis J. Manso, Reuth Mirsky, Sören Pirk, Phani Teja Singamaneni, Peter Stone, Ada V. Taylor, Peter Trautman, Nathan Tsoi, Marynel Vázquez, Xuesu Xiao, Peng Xu, Naoki Yokoyama, Alexander Toshev, Roberto Martín-Martín
Abstract: A major challenge to deploying robots widely is navigation in human-populated environments, commonly referred to as social robot navigation. While the field of social navigation has advanced tremendously in recent years, the fair evaluation of algorithms ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3700599.

Robotics in Elderly Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis of 20 Recent European Research Projects
Weria Khaksar, Diana Saplacan Lindblom, Lee Andrew Bygrave, Jim Torresen
Abstract: Studies foresee a dramatic increase in the elderly population of Western Europe over the next decades, putting pressure on healthcare systems. Healthcare robots are developed to facilitate independent living for elderly people. This article aims to ...
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3711936.



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ACM THRI welcomes contributions from across HRI and Robotics. For details on the journal, information for authors, and upcoming Special Issues, please visit the ACM THRI website: http://thri.acm.org

Iolanda Leite, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
James E. Young, University of Manitoba
Editors-in-Chief, ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction